Barrington's Voltz chooses Wisconsin

Barrington junior Dan Voltz is a big-time exception to offensive linemen who are not accustomed to being big news.

It's a big deal when schools such as national champion Auburn, Alabama and Notre Dame make scholarship offers. The Big Ten also threw its weight around with the 6-foot-4, 290-pound Voltz with Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State and Wisconsin making offers.

But Voltz had three big reasons for why he made a verbal commitment this weekend to Wisconsin.

"No. 1, Wisconsin is the best school for developing offensive linemen," Voltz said Tuesday night. "They put out the best offensive linemen in the country every year.

"No. 2, the atmosphere with the campus really caught my eye. And No. 3 was the proximity to home."

Voltz visited Madison two weekends ago and Northwestern this past weekend. The two-year starter and Daily Herald All-Area pick last season said the high-profile schools involved made for a challenging choice.

"Honestly, up to this point of my life it was probably the hardest decision," Voltz said. "With the schools to choose from, you can't go wrong with any of them. It was a tough decision but at the end I had to pick one and it happened to be Wisconsin."

Voltz said he may study sports management or marketing. He said he is considering an early graduation from Barrington next year to get a head start on his college career at Wisconsin.

"I've been doing this since last year - and I'm really comfortable with everything they had to offer," Voltz said.