Ihmir Smith-Marsette down to Iowa and Rutgers
By Tyler Devine
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Ihmir Smith-Marsette is at a crossroads that will either keep him in his home state of New Jersey or bring him halfway across the country to the University of Iowa.
Smith-Marsette, a native of Newark, N.J. and a Rutgers commit, took an officlal visit to Iowa over the weekend and liked what he saw and heard from the Iowa coaches.
He now is trying to decide between Iowa and Rutgers.
"I just have to go with my family and just solve it," Smith-Marsette said. "Iowa is in the mix. It’s 50-50 between Iowa and Rutgers right now. I plan on making a commitment by next Monday.“I don’t have a favorite. I don’t choose favorites. I just have to go with what’s best for me. I don’t have any favorites.”
Iowa is desperate for production at receiver after a year where it ranked second-to-last in passing yards in the Big Ten.
Smith-Marsette thinks he could have an immediate impact after speaking with Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz during his visit.
"It was great. I liked everything about the school," said the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Smith-Marsette, who is ranked as a three-star recruit. "They told me I could come in and make an impact at the receiver spot. They believe I could come in and get in that spot that’s empty and then make plays as a freshman.
“I toured the facility. I talked to all the coaches and got a feel for everybody, you know.
"Coach Ferentz, the head coach (made the biggest impact). He told me he believes I could come and make an impact and actually he believes in me and that means a lot.”