It comes down to two choices for West Aurora’s Terrence Smith. Iowa and football. ‘I really wanted to lock in.’

Football it is. And Iowa is his choice.

West Aurora senior Terrence Smith, a multisport standout, had plenty of options for the next level, with a bushelful of Division I scholarship offers for both football and basketball.

The 6-foot-4, 185-pound wide receiver settled on the former, announcing his commitment to coach Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes over the other finalist, Big Ten rival P.J. Fleck and Minnesota.

“I really wanted to lock in the school I wanted to go to and get that out of the way so I could focus on the season we’ve got going here,” Smith said. “But I also didn’t want to rush the process at all.

“I took my time and it just felt right to me — that Iowa was somewhere I could see myself going and living for the next four years.”

In the end, Smith said his football prospects were better than basketball.

“To be honest, I was getting a lot of looks for football and more than basketball,” Smith said. “Basketball, with the transfer portal, seems harder to get noticed, get the good looks you expect.”

West Aurora coach Nate Eimer believes Smith has a very high ceiling in football.

“I don’t know if people understand just how good Terrence is going to get,” Eimer said.

Smith is rated a three-star and four-star prospect, depending on the scouting service.

“He’s just a sponge, and an awesome kid,” Eimer said. “I do believe he has the ability to have a chance to play on Sundays. There are so many talented kids out there, but when you’re coachable and want to get better, it makes a big difference.

“Terrence loves being coached.”

Smith’s announcement came Sunday, two days after West Aurora kicked off Friday’s season opener with a 53-0 win over Proviso East and one day after Iowa’s 40-0 win over Illinois State.

Iowa’s offensive woes drew plenty of criticism last season, leading the 69-year-old Ferentz to relieve his son, Brian, of duties as the team’s offensive coordinator.

He was replaced by Tim Lester, the head coach at Western Michigan from 2017 to 2022 following stints as an assistant at Elmhurst, North Central College, Syracuse and Purdue.

Minnesota already had three reported verbal commitments from wide receivers, but Smith is reportedly the first receiver among 15 commits that Iowa has landed.

Six of the future Hawkeyes are from Illinois, including Oswego linebacker Carson Cooney, son of coach Brian Cooney; Edwardsville defensive end Iose Epenesa; Sycamore linebacker Burke Gautcher; Marist defensive lineman Brad Fitzgibbon; and Loyola safety Drew MacPherson.

Loyola quarterback Ryan Fitzgerald has also accepted a preferred walk-on offer from Iowa.

Smith said he hopes to play all through college for Ferentz, but should the veteran head coach retire, he’s convinced there will be continuity with the staff.

Smith, who watched last week’s game, believes the passing attack is on the right track going forward and that he can help what he called Iowa’s “outside game” through the air.

West Aurora’s Mason Atkins, a junior quarterback, is glad that he gets to target Smith in his final high school season.

“He’s just a ball player,” Atkins said of Smith. “You put the ball in his hands, he’s going to go out there and make a play. He can run any route and is a huge part of our offense.

“He’s gonna want the ball, go out and run every route his hardest and try to win every route.”

As a sophomore, Smith had 36 receptions for 629 yards and six touchdowns. He followed that up last season with 59 catches for 906 yards and 11 TDs.

Smith and 6-3 senior Kewon Marshall, who finished third and first, respectively, in the Class 3A state high jump last spring, are like security blankets for Atkins.

“Even if they don’t seem open, they’re open,” he said. “They’re the best athletes on the field. They win one-on-one routes knowing they can turn a 2-yard catch into 60 yards down the field.

“It’s huge. We don’t have to take every shot down the field. They make it easy on on me.”