When running back Taiwan Deal made his recruiting visit to Wisconsin in early April, he took notice of the stadium, the facilities and the weight room like any other high school prospect. He also paid attention to the players, coaches and the campus life and wondered how he would fit in.
But Deal couldn't keep his attention from drifting toward the man in the gray hooded sweatshirt. He couldn't believe Montee Ball, the all-time FBS touchdown leader, was standing there in the flesh. So he took the opportunity to chat and snap a few photos with one of his idols.
"Meeting Montee was just unbelievable," Deal told FOXSportsWisconsin.com "I looked up to this guy my sophomore year. That’s one of my favorite college running backs.
"And Montee Ball was just this great guy. He just came up to me and started talking. I was like, 'Wow, did Montee Ball really come up to me and start talking?' He's really down to earth. He talked to me like he knew me for 20 years or 10 years. I just felt real comfortable."
Deal, a 6-foot-2, 225-pounder from DeMatha Catholic High School in Maryland, experienced a similar comfort level with players and coaches during his entire visit. And the support he felt is part of the reason he ultimately committed to play football at Wisconsin on Tuesday morning. His pledge makes him the ninth oral commitment for Wisconsin's Class of 2014.
Just a few weeks after the visit, the Denver Broncos would select Ball in the second round of the NFL Draft. But while Ball and Deal visited on the Camp Randall Stadium field, Deal ran down a list of pressing questions he had about Wisconsin's program. He asked what Ball liked and disliked during his time in Madison. He inquired about running backs coach Thomas Hammock and his ability to develop his players.
"He gave me good answers," Deal said. "In the end, I felt like Wisconsin was the best fit for me."
Ball, of course, finished his career with 83 total touchdowns, won the Doak Walker Award for nation's best running back as a senior and was a Heisman Trophy finalist during his junior season. Deal, who stands three inches taller than Ball, can only hope his college career takes a similar path.
"I definitely think seeing a guy like that who broke so many records at Wisconsin helped," DeMatha football coach Elijah Brooks said. "Taiwan feels he could hopefully be somewhere in that ballpark when his career is over, and that definitely played a factor."
Deal, a Scout.com three-star prospect, is coming off a junior season in which he carried the ball 130 times for 955 yards with 21 touchdowns. And he picked Wisconsin over scholarship offers from Boston College, Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, UMass, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and West Virginia.
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Deal's growth is that he has only played running back for two seasons. Ball, on the other hand, began his days as a running back in elementary school.
Brooks said Deal played tight end and defensive end as a high school freshman.
"He's still very raw in the position," Brooks said. "And he's just continuing to learn the intricacies of playing running back: when to cut, when to lower his shoulder. We really hope to see a huge improvement from last year to this year.
"Taiwan is an aggressive, downhill, big running back who fits what Wisconsin does, and that’s run the ball downhill. I think that with the proper development, he'll only get better."
Deal noted DeMatha runs a pro-style, run-first offense that is similar to what Wisconsin uses, which could make his transition into the college game easier. Last season, DeMatha finished 9-3 and averaged 35.0 points per game.
"Like my coach tells me, my potential is limitless," Deal said. "I show that on the field. I've got a feel for this game. I love running the ball. I could have played linebacker or whatever. But I love running the ball. It's embedded in me. I do what I love."
Deal's pledge to Wisconsin is just the latest in a string of commitments under Badgers coach Gary Andersen.
On Monday, Wisconsin received an oral commitment from Genoa, Ohio, offensive lineman Michael Deiter. Deiter, a 6-foot-5, 300-pounder, is the third offensive lineman to commit in the Class of 2014, joining George Panos (Hartland Arrowhead) and Jaden Gault (Monona Grove).
Wisconsin's five other commitments in the Class of 2014 thus far are: linebacker Dominic Cizauskas (Mukonago), defensive tackle Craig Evans (Sun Prairie), defensive end Billy Hirschfeld (Hartland Arrowhead), defensive end Conor Sheehy (Marquette University High) and running back Ula Tolutau (Salt Lake City East).
Andersen also landed his first Class of 2015 prospect when quarterback Austin Kafentzis (Jordan High School in Sandy, Utah) committed last week.
When Deal arrives on campus next year, he'll find himself in a battle for playing time with running backs Melvin Gordon and Corey Clement, among others. Depending on his recovery from an ACL injury, Vonte Jackson could also be in that mix. But on Tuesday, Deal was not looking ahead. He was simply happy to have selected a college with a history of producing talented running backs.
"It's a big weight off my chest," Deal said. "I feel like I needed to do this because my father told me, he said, 'Good things come to those who wait.' I told him, 'Dad, I waited long enough, and I know where I want to be.'"
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