BRUNSWICK, Ga. — Shawn Smith is another talented 4-star prospect in the Class of 2017 with SEC offers from Brunswick High School. (D’Antne “Big Man” Demery would be the other.) Smith is rated as the nation’s No. 24 athlete for his signing class.
He told the AJC’s DawgNation.com that several schools haven shown recruiting interest in him of late, but the two that have stood out are UGA and Kentucky. Smith said the Wildcats have dangled a quick path to playing time in their pitch.
UGA receivers coach Bryan McClendon has another approach.
“He said it is not all about football,” Smith said. “He said you have to put your schoolwork before football. That’s what I like about Coach McClendon. It is not all about football. It is about the schoolwork first.”
Smith covered a lot of topics in his video interview with the AJC’s DawgNation.com on Tuesday. He broke down when he’ll make his college commitment next year, what he’s looking for in the right fit for his school and the college programs he plans to visit this fall.
He’s already circled the UGA-Alabama game next month as a game he plans to attend.
“The game is going to be intense,” Smith said. “I already know because it (is) Georgia versus Alabama. Nick Chubb is going to run the show. I already know he is going to show up and do his thing and of course the defense is going to do their thing.”
He reportedly also has offers from Auburn, Florida and Illinois. He said he’d like to receive offers from Alabama, Arizona, Tennessee and UCLA, as well. It seems like he’d really like to check out those West Coast schools to experience a different football atmosphere than what’s common in the South.
Smith is a dangerous returner thanks to his great speed. He said he has been clocked at 10.5 seconds in the 100-meter dash. He aims to be a college coach one day who recruits talented athletes, too.
He’s also related to UGA commitment Deejay Dallas from crosstown Glynn Academy. Dallas is his cousin.
Jeff Sentell covers UGA recruiting for AJC.com and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Follow him on Twitter for the latest on who’s on their way to play Between the Hedges.
