Another shakeup for Scout 5-star wide receiver Devonta Smith - Lsu - Scout
It's been almost a month since Scout five-star Amite (La.) wide receiver Devonta Smith postponed his decision to commit to a college following the flooding in Louisiana. While his new decision date is National Signing Day, a lot has already changed since that decision to postpone was made.
Namely, Smith has had a few schools like TCU and Texas enter the fold while LSU has completely dropped off from communicating with Smith. There's still Alabama, Tennessee and Miami (Fla.) as major players for his signature too.
The biggest surprise is LSU dropping off communication with Smith as the Tigers were thought to have earned their way back into the fold when many thought the 6-1, 160-pound receiver was set to commit to the Tide. That doesn't appear to be the case now.
"Not really. I haven't talked to anyone there. I've started talking to (other) coaches again, but I haven't talked to LSU ever since I postponed my decision. They have not contacted me," Smith said. "To me, it really doesn't mean nothing because it is what it is. That shows me that they say I'm a top target, but they're not talking to me, which shows me a lot."
Smith still plans to get to LSU for the Tigers' game against Alabama though. It will take a huge effort for LSU to get back into it.
"I started all the way over, but what they'll (LSU) have to do, it'd have to be a lot. I've been talking to other schools lately."
The No. 1 wide receiver in the South made another trip to Tuscaloosa this weekend for Alabama's win over Western Kentucky, where he was welcomed with open arms by Nick Saban and company.
"It's a great place to be and a good atmosphere. I really like what they're doing with the atmosphere. It's SEC football. I'm pretty sure all the games are like that. I really like it. It's a great team effort and I really like what they're doing with it."
The No. 22 player in the Scout 300 was impressed with what Alabama receivers coach Billy Napier was telling him before the game about the offense. Watching Calvin Ridley and ArDarius Stewart perform well with two young quarterbacks is a big positive for Smith.
"The way that the coaches interacted with their position groups and tell them what they need to do during the game. He (Napier) were telling me what they were planning to do and how I fit into the offense," Smith said. "They really opened up the offense. To me, it seems like they're throwing the ball more than running it. What they're doing with Calvin, that's big because once he leaves, I would go there and be in his position and get moved around a lot. I know for sure I have a quarterback there. They both stood out."
The only two schools that Smith knows for sure he take official visits to are Tennessee and Miami (Fla.), both of which have great relationships with Smith.
"I talk to Miami with coach Dugans and coach Richt every day. We talk a lot. Tennessee, we talk here and there, but they're contacting me. I was planning on going to Miami for the Florida State game, but we have an away game then. I gotta see with Tennessee if we have a home or away game."
TCU offensive line coach Jarrett Anderson and Texas defensive line coach Brick Haley both have Smith ready to take a hard look at the Horned Frogs and Longhorns. Both schools are relatively new to Smith's recruitment, but boast wide open offenses.
"I've been talking to their coaches a lot. I know they're (TCU) going to air it out from what the coaching staff says. I've talked to a lot of Louisiana people up there and they tell me that they love it. We (Anderson and I) talk every two days. Relationship is coming good," Scout's No. 2 wide receiver in 2017 said. "(Texas is saying) Just come and check the place out. Their offense is pretty open too and they're on the come up. It shows me that coach Strong is doing something good. Last year, it was off to a slow start, but it shows this year that it's building a lot."
The future kinesiology major plans to get back to Alabama for the Texas A&M game, to Tennessee for the Alabama game, to Texas for the TCU game as of now.
Whether those end up being officials or just trips, Smith will work out soon. Smith hasn't seen everything he's needed to see from a school to commit yet, which is why he now has Signing Day as his commitment date, but he knows what he needs to see.
"I haven't seen it yet, but playing time and a great relationship with the coaching staff. I want a school that really wants me and a school that I feel is telling me what's real."
Smith sat out practice on Monday with a bicep injury from lifting weights, but says it isn't too serious. His Amite team is poised for a deep playoff run and Smith thinks the team can win a state championship.
"Right now, we need to stay focused and stay disciplined. That's what has been getting us these last two games. If we do that throughout the whole season, a state championship should be easy."