Key excerpts/paraphrases:
The five-star receiver has continued to allow Miami to recruit him despite being
committed to Ohio State since Dec. 2022, and the Hurricanes took a small step forward after Smith saw his first Miami practice.
āI really just wanted to see how everything is down here,ā Smith said. āHow everything is with the new offensive coordinator, coach
(Shannon) Dawson, the new receivers coach, coach KB, coach Kevin Beard, and really just seeing how the offense is and how the coaches are and the scheme theyāre running this year. Iām loving it. Iām loving what Iām seeing right now. So letās just see how the season goes now. Iāll come back down probably in the summer or in a week or two from now and see how everything is.ā
Smith said he doesnāt want to take an official visit to Miami since Coral Gables is less than an hour away from him and he feels he can drop into campus at any time.
He has repeatedly said he needs to see Miami improve offensively to pull him away from Ohio State, but he likes how the Canesā revamped offense looks early in the year. Miami focused most of Smithās visit around film study and interactions with Dawson, Beard and head coach Mario Cristobal, who wanted to show Smith how he could fit into Dawsonās offensive system. Dawson told Smith he wants to use him the way he used
Tank Dell at Houston. Dell led the country in receiving yards and touchdowns and finished second nationally in receptions.
āHe had a way he used Tank Dell, he was telling me I could have that role where he moves me around the offense and stuff like that,ā Smith said. āAnd with coach KB, he was just really showing me the really strong fundamentals I can use as a receiver. Thatās really it, then coach KB and coach Cristobal telling me that Iām needed here ā that we can change the program.ā
Miami emphasized to Smith that he can be a day one starter at Miami and immediately contribute.
Smith saw Miami land its 2024 quarterback last night when Gray (Ga.) Jones County three-star signal caller Judd Anderson committed to the Canes. Smith said he sees upside in the quarterback.
āHeās a great quarterback,ā Smith said. āCoaches were talking great about him. Iāve seen clips of him play. Heās got a strong arm, decent arm, accuracy is good, big-time quarterback. He feels like Philip Rivers a little bit. Heās a great quarterback to me, for sure.ā
Smith is also the 7-on-7 teammate of four-star quarterback Air Noland, the No. 4 quarterback in the On300, who Miami was also attempting to recruit. Noland is scheduled to announce his commitment this evening and Ohio State is a favorite, but Smith said he doesnāt feel like Nolandās commitment will have massive influence on his own decision.
Donāt expect Miami to slow down on Smith anytime soon, or expect the Canes to give up on scheduling an official. But the Canes are going to have to play the long game with Smith, particularly since heās said he wants to see in-season offensive improvement before he considers flipping.