Corey Clement commits to Wisconsin

Many kids open presents on their birthday.

Corey Clement revealed a secret on his.

Clement, the Glassboro senior running back who is South Jersey's all-time leader in career rushing yards, announced Friday that he will attend the University of Wisconsin on a football scholarship.

Clement made the decision during a pep rally in the Glassboro gymnasium to mark his official invitation to play in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl on Jan. 4 in Carson, Calif.

Friday also was Clement's 18th birthday.

"Best day of my life," Clement said.

Clement said he made the decision to attend Wisconsin during a visit to the campus in Madison on the weekend of Oct. 20. He said he committed to the Badgers at that time.

But he said he wanted to keep the decision secret until Friday, when he could combine the announcement with the ceremony to receive his game jersey for the Semper Fidelis game.

Clement said his decision came down to Wisconsin or Notre Dame. He had committed to Pitt in the spring but changed his mind after visiting Wisconsin. He also visited Nebraska earlier this fall.

"I want to be that guy," Clement said. "I felt like at Wisconsin, I could be that guy, and at Notre Dame, I would be just another guy."

Clement said he felt welcomed by both players and coaches during his visit to Wisconsin.

"It's one thing for the coaches to want you, but I felt like the players wanted me, too," Clement said. "I already feel like I'm part of the Badger family."

Clement said he was excited to run behind "college football's biggest line" at Wisconsin and also to run on artificial turf at Camp Randall Stadium. Glassboro's home field is grass.

Clement said he hoped to step in immediately next season for Wisconsin senior running back Montee Ball and "maybe I can break his records."

Clement said he will not enroll at Wisconsin in January. Previously, he had indicated a desire to finish his high school degree in December and enroll in college in January, with an eye toward participating in spring football.

"I want to enjoy being a senior and rest my body," Clement said.

Standing at midcourt with a wireless microphone, and leaning on his older brother Stephen, Clement was overwhelmed with emotion and broke down in tears while thanking his teammates, coaches, family, and friends.

"I kept it all in, and I finally let everything out," Clement said. "I'm so thankful for all the support that I've had to get to this point."

The event was a celebration that included performances by the Glassboro cheerleaders and band and attendance by the student body as well as many dignitaries from the little town in Gloucester County.

Clement was presented with a blue No. 13 jersey by Bret Cooper, vice president of scouting for Junior Rank, who helps to select players for the Semper Fidelis game. The game is supported by the U.S. Marine Corps.

Clement created some suspense in making his college decision. He asked three teammates to join him at midcourt, each wearing a different hat: Pitt, Notre Dame, and Wisconsin.

Clement asked the teammate wearing the Pitt hat to return to the stands. Then Clement grabbed the Wisconsin hat and put it on.

"I felt welcomed everywhere I visited," Clement said. "But I felt more secure at Wisconsin."

Clement said he spoke with former Overbrook running back Ron Dayne, who won the Heisman Trophy at Wisconsin in 1999.

Several other South Jersey players, such as Edgewood's Lee DeRamus, Woodbury's Chris Pressley, and Camden Catholic's Sherrard Cadogan, also have played for Wisconsin.

"It's a South Jersey connection," Clement said.

The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Clement has 5,590 career rushing yards. He will play between three and five more games, depending on how far Glassboro advances in the South Jersey Group 1 tournament.

Clement also holds the South Jersey record for rushing yards in a game (478 vs. Gloucester on Sept. 28) and a season (2,510 in 2011).

"This is all overwhelming to me," Clement said. "It just shows that your dreams can come true if you work hard enough."