2021 Melbourne Senior (FL) ATH Chase Smith signed with the Miami Hurricanes earlier today. Smith is Miami's 7th signee on the day.
The 6-3 190 pounder is currently a consensus 4-star prospect in the national rankings. According to the 247Sports Composite Ranking, Smith is the #293 player nationally in 2021, the #17 ATH in the country, and the #43 player in the Sunshine State.
Recruiting Story
Chase Smith is a Miami legacy who received his offer from the Canes on January 10th of this year. Smith is a quiet kid who does not do many interviews or use social media much, but, being a Miami legacy, most people assumed that Miami would be the pick. Those people would be right as Smith committed to Miami on August 27th despite garnering attention and offers from big time programs such as Georgia, Oklahoma, Auburn, and Florida.
Evaluation
Smith is an athletic marvel that possesses a long and lanky frame with room to grow, and he could shine at many different positions at the next level, but the Canes currently have him pegged for the striker position. On film, Smith is able to show off a diverse skillset on the defensive side of the ball, but seems at his best when he’s closer to the line of scrimmage in a disruptor role. That’s going to make him a perfect fit for the striker position at Miami, where he will be able to use his speed and playmaking ability in the box to cause havoc for opposing offenses. Strong run defender that will contain the edge and is also at home blitzing into the backfield to make stops behind the sticks. Demonstrates he has a nose for the football and brings a scorer’s mentality to the defense as shown by 4 defensive TD’s last year; he is looking to make house calls whenever he gets his hands on the rock.
Adept at running down plays from behind where he can display his impressive make-up speed; his effort-level is never in question. Not just a guy that can make plays in the box, though; raw coverage ability shows up on tape at times as well, and his speed will allow him to lock down the middle of the field on passing downs once he learns more technique in that area of the game. Can rely on speed and finesse too much; would like to see more physicality from him in taking on blocks and shedding them quickly to make a play. Ultimately, a high-upside prospect that you can really see taking off once he fills out his frame and starts to focus on one position full-time.
The Team
There will be just two strikers ahead of Chase Smith on the depth chart when he arrives on campus in January, Gilbert Frierson and Keontra Smith. Fellow signee James Williams will start his career at Miami at safety, but he is another player of a similar build who could potentially move to striker down the line.
Redshirt Probability: 7/10
Chase Smith will arrive early in January, which will allow him to transform his body into what will be required from an in the box player in college, so that will at least give him a shot at playing early. Smith will still be behind two players who have played a bunch of snaps in 2020 for Miami, and two that have done so very well. Smith will also need to learn the defense. All of that equates to Smith likely taking a year before he is ready for primetime.
The 6-3 190 pounder is currently a consensus 4-star prospect in the national rankings. According to the 247Sports Composite Ranking, Smith is the #293 player nationally in 2021, the #17 ATH in the country, and the #43 player in the Sunshine State.
Recruiting Story
Chase Smith is a Miami legacy who received his offer from the Canes on January 10th of this year. Smith is a quiet kid who does not do many interviews or use social media much, but, being a Miami legacy, most people assumed that Miami would be the pick. Those people would be right as Smith committed to Miami on August 27th despite garnering attention and offers from big time programs such as Georgia, Oklahoma, Auburn, and Florida.
Evaluation
Smith is an athletic marvel that possesses a long and lanky frame with room to grow, and he could shine at many different positions at the next level, but the Canes currently have him pegged for the striker position. On film, Smith is able to show off a diverse skillset on the defensive side of the ball, but seems at his best when he’s closer to the line of scrimmage in a disruptor role. That’s going to make him a perfect fit for the striker position at Miami, where he will be able to use his speed and playmaking ability in the box to cause havoc for opposing offenses. Strong run defender that will contain the edge and is also at home blitzing into the backfield to make stops behind the sticks. Demonstrates he has a nose for the football and brings a scorer’s mentality to the defense as shown by 4 defensive TD’s last year; he is looking to make house calls whenever he gets his hands on the rock.
Adept at running down plays from behind where he can display his impressive make-up speed; his effort-level is never in question. Not just a guy that can make plays in the box, though; raw coverage ability shows up on tape at times as well, and his speed will allow him to lock down the middle of the field on passing downs once he learns more technique in that area of the game. Can rely on speed and finesse too much; would like to see more physicality from him in taking on blocks and shedding them quickly to make a play. Ultimately, a high-upside prospect that you can really see taking off once he fills out his frame and starts to focus on one position full-time.
The Team
There will be just two strikers ahead of Chase Smith on the depth chart when he arrives on campus in January, Gilbert Frierson and Keontra Smith. Fellow signee James Williams will start his career at Miami at safety, but he is another player of a similar build who could potentially move to striker down the line.
Redshirt Probability: 7/10
Chase Smith will arrive early in January, which will allow him to transform his body into what will be required from an in the box player in college, so that will at least give him a shot at playing early. Smith will still be behind two players who have played a bunch of snaps in 2020 for Miami, and two that have done so very well. Smith will also need to learn the defense. All of that equates to Smith likely taking a year before he is ready for primetime.
