High school teammates to play college careers at IU

The mutual dream of two friends came to fruition Wednesday morning.

Noel Padmore and Kristopher Smith, two of IU’s 22 commits in its 2013 class from Flowery Branch High School in Georgia, signed their National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and athletic careers together at IU this fall.

The final task of transforming their shared vision into a reality was signing the dotted line and faxing the paperwork to IU compliance officials.

“It was exciting, but I was sort of nervous,” Padmore said. “It was humbling. It was a blessing.”

Padmore, a 3-star defensive back according to Rivals.com, cited his relationship with the IU coaching staff as a key factor behind his decision to leave the South and attend college in Bloomington.

“It was really the relationship I have with (cornerbacks) Coach (Brandon) Shelby, and the relationship I have with all the other coaches,” Padmore said. “And having Kris with me, that’s a bonus, too.”

Despite meeting just two years ago, Padmore and Smith have developed an enduring friendship that is evident both on and off the field.

“I’ve known him for two years,” Padmore said. “We chill all the time, and he’s one of my best friends.” 

They wish to be roommates next school year, and Smith, a three-star linebacker, said he is ecstatic about that possibility.

“It’s a great feeling knowing I’ll have a friend up here I already know,” Smith said. “Really, it’ll be great having a best friend I can talk to every day and have there and compete with.”

Yet the reality that these Atlanta natives will be playing together on the collegiate level wasn’t even a possibility in Smith’s mind as a prep star.

In fact, Smith said he wouldn’t have believed it at all at the time. But it’s finally starting to sink in for the 205-pound linebacker.

“It’s unbelievable,” Smith said. “I didn’t think it would happen. I mean, we all talked about it happening, and I’m just glad it happened to me.”

IU Coach Kevin Wilson, the man who brought Padmore and Smith to Bloomington, said he likes what both will bring to the table.

“One, they’re both really good,” Wilson said. “I’m not big on recruiting teammates, but they were both pretty unique. We got Kris on campus, he liked us from the get-go, and I think he sold Noel in getting him up here.”

With the shared dream between these two of playing together in college now a reality, a new dream has begun to form in the minds of both Padmore and Smith that is best described as ambitious.

“I’m not just thinking about a Big Ten Championship,” Padmore said. “I want to go to the Rose Bowl, as well. Returning to that game is one of the reasons I chose IU.”

Smith agreed with his best friend’s sentiments about returning the Hoosiers to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1968.

“That would be crazy,” Smith said. “That’s the main goal, coming in working to get back to the Rose Bowl. Our coaches were telling us that 2013 will be the class that starts it.”