Ft. Wayne recruits are both friends and rivals

Although they play for opposing high schools in Ft. Wayne, Ind., Aidan Smith and Ben Skowronek enjoy an established relationship both as teammates and friends.

"We go to rival schools, so obviously we don't play together in high school, but 7-on-7 with him is great just to build some chemistry," said three-star wide receiver Ben Skowronek. "Next tournament will actually be the first tournament that we know we'll be playing college ball together, so maybe he'll throw it to me a little more."

Skowronek was talking about the IMG 7v7 National Championship in Bradenton, Fla., before it kicked off on Friday. The two future Wildcats wound up leading their AWP Sports Training team to the national title on Sunday.

"Thanks bro...we going to win more championships when we all play at Northwestern together," Skowronek tweeted to Northwestern running back target Tre Bryant in response to a congratulatory message.

When the summer is over, however, Smith and Skowronek will again find themselves on opposite sidelines representing their respective high schools. Smith's Carroll Chargers have dominated the matchup of late, winning their last four games against Skowronek's Homestead Spartans.

"I don't think it'll be very different from what it has been," Smith said, rubbing a little salt in Skowronek's wound. "We beat them the past four times we played them the past two years, so we're looking to do the same thing. Maybe a picture or two after, but other than that were still looking to beat him."

Skowronek, meanwhile, mentioned some added motivation he might draw upon when the two teams face off next fall.

"I'm definitely going to want to win that game," Skowronek said. "Last year they beat us twice; they actually knocked us out of the playoffs. It hurts a little bit, so I'm going to get out there this year and want to beat them. Maybe get a couple interceptions, maybe I'll play some defense against him as well. I'm just going to treat it like a normal game, but I'll definitely see a little extra motivation there."

In addition to playing both defense and offense on the gridiron, the 6-foot-4 Skowronek played for Homestead's basketball team, which won the 4A State Championship in March.

"I played just for fun, but we won the state championship this year," Skowronek said. "I played pretty much everything, power forward, small forward, center at times. So I just went in, played defense and created turnovers."

The multi-sport athlete also had glowing remarks for Smith, a 6-foot-3, 188-pounder who is probably misrepresented as a pro-style quarterback by Rivals.

"He's a great athlete," Skowronek said. "He's a big kid, a lot of people just don't think he's that great an athlete. He can scramble, he can make some plays on his feet. He has a really strong arm, and he's obsessed with the game. He's always carrying around a football, always watching film and talking football."

Smith, the only quarterback the Wildcats look to take from the class of 2016, recently impressed at the Rivals Quarterback Challenge in Baltimore.

"An argument can be made that, from beginning to end, Smith put together the most consistently impressive performance at the Rivals Quarterback Challenge Finals," wrote Rivals recruiting analyst Josh Helmholdt.

Despite the high remarks Skowronek had for him, Smith jokingly took a couple of jabs at his current rival.

"He may come off as laid back, really shy, but he's not necessarily smooth," Smith said. "Just completely get rid of smooth, he's not smooth at all. Once you get to know him, though, he's what I would describe as boisterous. He's kind of up in your face once you get to know him. He loves to open his mouth and talk a lot, so he's fun to be around."

Smith and Skowronek, who have known each other for three years, said they are considering rooming together at Northwestern but have not made any final decisions.

"He's already my guy, but if I have an opportunity to room with someone new, someone I get along with, I'll probably take that opportunity. Smith said. "But if not, it'll always be fun rooming with him."

Skowronek, whose cousin T.J. Green is walking on at Northwestern as a quarterback in the fall, chose the Wildcats over Big Ten finalists Indiana, Iowa and Purdue.

"(Skowronek) always said once he got that offer that was one of his top schools," Smith said. "We've always talked about playing together, so it was just a dream come true."

Once Skowronek made his decision and committed to Northwestern on June 7, he turned his attention to Smith.

"I've been hanging out with him all week, he's one of my good friends," Skowronek said. "I told him when he got into to Northwestern, he better commit, and he did."

Smith received an offer from the Wildcats after Joshua Jackson let the coaching staff know he was not committing. His decision came quickly on June 8, two days after he received the offer and just one day after Skowronek.

Skowronek and Smith both plan on studying business at Northwestern, although they said they were open to pursuing other interests as well.