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Nebraska state trooper convinces recruit to join the Huskers

Graham Watson

Nebraska state troopers apparently make some of the state’s better recruiters.

Pat Smith, a kicker from Western Illinois University, was on his way to Lincoln, Neb., for his official visit to the Cornhuskers' campus. Unfortunately, his driving skills (or lack thereof) piqued the interest of a state trooper, who pulled him over and inquired about why Smith was in the state. Smith told the state trooper he was making his official visit to Nebraska and the state trooper, who was apparently a big Nebraska football fan, immediately went into recruiting mode.

"He took my insurance card and went back to his car," Smith told the Quincy Herald-Whig. "He then waved me back to his car. We spent about 15 minutes talking about the Huskers."

Smith, who was one of 10 finalists for the Fred Mitchell Outstanding Place-Kicker Award, which is given to the best kicker in the FCS, Division II, Division II, NAIA and junior college ranks, said the whole ordeal made an impression on him and it was one of the reasons he’s enrolling at Nebraska this fall.

Since Smith, who just finished his junior year of eligibility, graduated from WIU with a degree in finance and will be enrolling in grad school, he can play right away if he wins the job.

Smith made all 10 of his field goal attempts and all 11 of his PAT’s last season.

If Smith does end up being a gem – and perhaps the difference – in Nebraska’s 2013 season, the Cornhuskers should find that state trooper and hire him to stop all recruits on their way into town.

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