Huskers, Red Raiders, UM grab commits
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Michael Smith, who is 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, committed to Nebraska last week, according to assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Doug Holland. Smith still might take a visit to Arizona, but at this point he’s committed to the Huskers.
“Michael is our racer corner,” Holland said. “He committed to Nebraska when those coaches were in here last week. He was a starter and all-conference pick at Bakersfield last year, but then moved down here and since we’re a new school he kind of slipped under the radar.”
But credit the Husker staff for getting Smith back on the radar and on their commitment list.
“He has a lot intuition,” Holland said. “Like many other high school kids, he was a great basketball player. He just has a lot of athleticism.”
Smith, originally from Coolidge, Ariz., will have three years to play two seasons. He has been clocked at 4.56 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He had five interceptions this season.
Smith is scheduled to visit Nebraska on January 10.
But Smith isn’t the only Pima College player to make a decision.
Smith was also joined last week by teammates Ryan Patterson and Willie Metcalf in making commitments.
Patterson, who is 6-foot-1, 200 pounds and has a 4.47 time in the 40-yard dash, committed to Michigan during an in-home visit to the school last week from the Wolverine coaches.
“He’s probably a soft commitment since he’s still going to visit UofA,” Holland said. “But right now he’s committed to Michigan. He has family up there and would be a really good fit in their system.”
Patterson, originally from Desert Visa, Ariz., played in high school with Casey Claussen and will have two years to play two seasons.
“Ryan is a great athlete that would have played cornerback for many other programs,” Holland said. “He had five interceptions this season and brought two of those back for touchdowns.”
Patterson is going to visit Michigan in January and will graduate in the spring.
Patterson and Smith’s commitments are impressive, but not to be left out is Willie Metcalf, a 6-foot-7, 275-pound tight end. Metcalf has committed to Texas Tech, picking them over Arizona State, Arizona State, Nebraska and Michigan.
Of the three players, Metcalf’s story is probably the most interesting.
“He originally signed with Ohio State out of Dayton, Ohio,” Holland said. “He didn’t make grades and ended up playing basketball for two years at Eastern Arizona and Spoon River Community College. While at EAC, he was injured and is hoping that he can get that year back as a medical redshirt.
“So if he does, then he could have three to play two. Some other schools like Nebraska have asked him to stay another year and others recruited him to play offensive tackle, but Texas Tech loved him as a big physical tight end.”
And that’s exactly what he is.
“He’s a great kid that has worked hard,” Holland said. “He’s going to visit Texas Tech in early January.”