Illinois DE makes a verbal commitment

North Chicago, Ill. defensive end prospect O'Brien Schofield (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) ended his recruiting process today, and Schofield gave his verbal commitment to the University of Wisconsin Badgers.

"I decided a few weeks ago that I wanted to play for Wisconsin," O'Brien Schofield said. "I took some time to talk things over with my family and my coaches, then today I told my coach (Mike Grenda) that I wanted to make my verbal official, so I called the Wisconsin coaches and gave them my commitment around noon."

Schofield talked about the factors that led him to pledge to the Badgers today.

"Wisconsin basically has everything I was looking for in a school. They offer a great education, they have a very solid football program year in and year out, plus I love the facilities and the campus. The coaches are just great guys, and once the Badgers offered me awhile ago, they were always the top school on my mind."

"I took some time to think everything over, and it feels great to finally be able to tell everyone my decision. It's been really on my mind over the last few weeks, and I finally decided that it was time to give my verbal commitment to the Badgers."

"My Mom and Dad are also really excited about my decision. They were great in helping me make my final decision, and they supported me no matter what I decided in the end. My coach (Mike Grenda) also was great during this process, and now I can just focus on school and my senior season. I know my family is excited to have me playing so close to home."

In the end, it came down to either Wisconsin or Iowa State for Schofield.

"I really gave Iowa State some serious consideration, and they have some great people in Ames, and you'll never hear me say a bad word about them. In the end, I needed to follow my heart and my instincts, and my heart and instincts led me to Madison, Wisconsin. I'm thrilled to give the Badgers my verbal commitment. Wisconsin is recruiting me as a linebacker."

O'Brien Schofield had offers from Wisconsin, Iowa State, Central Michigan and Eastern Illinois as well as recruiting interest from several Big Ten schools.