With offers from 27 schools and counting, 2019 Indian River (VA) 4-star DT Ben Smiley felt it was time to start focusing on a few choice schools and took it upon himself to begin narrowing down his process this weekend. Smiley released his top 10 list on Sunday night and the Canes made the cut.
With the defensive tackle position remaining a huge need for UM in this class, the Canes are scouring the Southeast for the best DT’s in the region and have identified Smiley as a target worthy of attention. UM offered the talented lineman back in February of earlier this year, while former DL coach Craig Kuligowski was still in charge. Since Kuligowski’s departure, new hire Jess Simpson has continued to build a relationship with Smiley and put Miami in position to continue to recruit him.
For his part, Smiley is aware of the many benefits UM can offer both as a student and an athlete. It was Miami’s solid history of putting defensive linemen in the NFL and helping prospects take their game to the next level, as well as the top-notch educational programs available at Miami, that helped convince Smiley the Canes were worthy of further consideration.
“Really it was that they’re great in academics,” Smiley said on why the Canes made his list. “Also, they’re known for developing defensive lineman to be beasts and preparing them for next level.”
Previously, Smiley had named Virginia his leader back in February after a visit to the Cavaliers’ campus. However, shortly thereafter was when Smiley’s recruitment began to really take off, as he received offers from Alabama, Penn State, Oklahoma, Nebraska, NC State, and Texas A&M, along with the Canes, and he decided to open things up a bit more with a top 10 instead.
The next step is to start taking visits, and Smiley is anticipating visiting all ten of his favorites in the future. Smiley will be making the trip to Coral Gables to get to know the coaching staff better and check out the sights on campus to see if Miami is the place for him.
“Yes I will visit, probably in summer,” Smiley said on his visit plans.
Smiley is rated a 4-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite, where he’s ranked the #354 overall player nationally, the #24 defensive tackle in the 2019 class, and the #9 player from the state of Virginia.
With the defensive tackle position remaining a huge need for UM in this class, the Canes are scouring the Southeast for the best DT’s in the region and have identified Smiley as a target worthy of attention. UM offered the talented lineman back in February of earlier this year, while former DL coach Craig Kuligowski was still in charge. Since Kuligowski’s departure, new hire Jess Simpson has continued to build a relationship with Smiley and put Miami in position to continue to recruit him.
For his part, Smiley is aware of the many benefits UM can offer both as a student and an athlete. It was Miami’s solid history of putting defensive linemen in the NFL and helping prospects take their game to the next level, as well as the top-notch educational programs available at Miami, that helped convince Smiley the Canes were worthy of further consideration.
“Really it was that they’re great in academics,” Smiley said on why the Canes made his list. “Also, they’re known for developing defensive lineman to be beasts and preparing them for next level.”
Previously, Smiley had named Virginia his leader back in February after a visit to the Cavaliers’ campus. However, shortly thereafter was when Smiley’s recruitment began to really take off, as he received offers from Alabama, Penn State, Oklahoma, Nebraska, NC State, and Texas A&M, along with the Canes, and he decided to open things up a bit more with a top 10 instead.
The next step is to start taking visits, and Smiley is anticipating visiting all ten of his favorites in the future. Smiley will be making the trip to Coral Gables to get to know the coaching staff better and check out the sights on campus to see if Miami is the place for him.
“Yes I will visit, probably in summer,” Smiley said on his visit plans.
Smiley is rated a 4-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite, where he’s ranked the #354 overall player nationally, the #24 defensive tackle in the 2019 class, and the #9 player from the state of Virginia.
