Football: Wakeland WR makes oral commitment

[Harry]

Turner Smiley heard all about Dan McCarney from his father ever since North Texas’ head coach arrived in Denton nearly two years ago.

Keaton Smiley was a defensive back at Iowa when McCarney was the Hawkeyes’ defensive line coach in the 1980s, a connection that played a small part in Turner Smiley’s decision to play for the Mean Green.

The 6-foot-1 wide receiver from Frisco Wakeland committed to play for UNT on Sunday night.

“I have talked to some other schools but had never talked to any of those schools’ head coaches,” Turner Smiley said. “I always talk to coach Mac. My dad speaks highly of him and says he has great character and that he is building UNT’s program the right way.”

Oral commitments are non-binding. The first day recruits in the class of 2013 can sign national letters of intent is Feb. 6.

Smiley has caught 60 passes for 862 yards and 12 touchdowns this season for the Wolverines.

Smiley also was offered a scholarship by Navy and had drawn interest from several other schools, including Illinois.

UNT special teams/tight ends coach Kent Riddle recruited Smiley.

“He’s a very good player with outstanding athletic ability, a burst of speed and big-play potential,” Wakeland coach Marty Secord said. “UNT is a good opportunity for him. They are running a good program and are headed in the right direction. You can see that they are doing it the right way and are taking local kids who are not far from them.”

Smiley participated in one of UNT’s camps in June and posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.4 seconds.

Read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/north-texas-headlines/20121105-football-wakeland-wr-makes-oral-commitment.ece