The Detroit Southeastern High School senior made his commitment Sunday, choosing MSU over Michigan because, among other reasons, he will be allowed to play both basketball and football.

“(Tom Izzo) has seen me play basketball, and he’s really interested in having me come out after the football season and play,” said Smith, who is 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds.

While he will play with both teams, Smith, who is ranked fourth on Rivals.com’s list of U-M’s top football prospects for 2008, said he is focusing on football.

Southeastern football head coach Donshell English said he has never had a player with Smith’s combination of size and speed.

“His athleticism is probably the No.1 strength he has – and his confidence,” English said of Smith, who runs the 40-meter dash in 4.4 seconds. “They go hand in hand.”

During his junior year, Smith averaged 66.1 receiving yards per game and caught six touchdown passes. He also caught six interceptions as a defensive back.

Smith said he looks to make an impact as a playmaker, saying he is not worried about head coach Mark Dantonio’s emphasis on the running game.

“I thought about it a lot, but when I talked to him, he was very straight up with me,” Smith said.

“I asked him if the coaches like to run – he said he’s a coach that likes to win and if it takes passing the ball to a playmaker, he would.

“We communicated very well. They recruited me very hard.”

The rigorous recruiting should pay off for Dantonio, as Smith excels both on and off the field, English said.

“Fred Smith is going to be the ideal football player for Dantonio,” he said. “No. 1, he’s going to do a lot of community work. No. 2, he’s very strong, very athletic and very confident – so all that is going to show up.

“When it’s time to make plays, he’s going to be there and make his plays.”

In the fall, Smith will hold the role as team captain.

“He’s the unquestioned team leader,” English said. “Everything he says and does, by example and word of mouth, everyone tries to follow.”

Smith’s current teammate and best friend, defensive back Charles Burrell, also verbally committed to play football at MSU, and he was a major factor in Smith’s decision.

“He was in my ear every day telling me, ‘We can do it again,’” Smith said.

For a while, Burrell said when the two had discussed where Smith would go, there were a lot of other teams under consideration. But in the end, Burrell’s nudging paid off.

“He’s just my boy,” Burrell said. “Fred – he’s a lot of fun. We clown around … we work very hard.”

In the future, Smith said he may be seeking the counsel of a certain former Spartan who proved himself in both football and basketball.

“I haven’t really talked to Trannon … I want to get in touch with him sooner or later and see what his take was,” he said.