ORLANDO — As one of the top linebackers in the country, Georgia product Roquan Smith is enjoying himself this week in Orlando, Florida at the Under Armour All American game.
It’s a tremendous honor to be out here competing with some of the top guys in America,” he said. “It’s great. You know where you stand with some of the top guys in the country. It’s just pretty good to be out here competing with them.”
Smith, however, is in the minority here in Orlando. Most of the prospects at the Under Armour All American game have already pledged their commitment. To a university — Smith remains undecided.
With the recruiting dead period set to end on January 16, Smith will begin taking official visits to help narrow down his list of schools and get closer to an answer by national signing day. He’s already taken two visits, has two more planned and the Gators are one of three teams fighting for that fifth and final official visit.
“I’ve taken officials to Georgia and USC,” he said. “On the 16th I plan on LSU. On the 24th I haven’t decided yet. It’s gonna be between Florida, Auburn and if [D.J.] Durkin goes to Michigan I’ll probably go check them out. On the 29th it’s going to be UCLA.”
D.J. Durkin was Smith’s main recruiter at Florida and the two built a solid bond. Smith liked how Durkin would take care of his players and that’s’ the reason that Durkin could earn a visit from the talented linebacker when he finally lands at a new job.
Durkin isn’t the only former Gator coach that is staying in contact with Smith either. Will Muschamp and the Auburn Tigers have been coming after Smith hard of late.
“He’s still trying to get me, he called me like twice, he called me yesterday [Monday] actually,” Smith said of Muschamp. “He’s just says he wants me as an Auburn Tiger, he wants someone with him who’s more country than he is.”
The Gators are not out of this race yet. New defensive coordinator Geoff Collins tried to recruit Smith when he was at Mississippi State but quickly realized that the linebacker wasn’t interested in moving to Starkville and backed off. Now that he’s in Gainesville, Collins is breaking out the full court press to try and land Collins at his new job.
“He wants me in Gainesville,” Smith said of Collins. “[He said] Nothing has changed about the [Gators] other than the coaching staff.”
Smith isn’t sure if he will officially visit Gainesville but he did say he would need to get back down to Gainesville again to meet the coaches face-to-face and see how the atmosphere is around campus before deciding.
Florida will be in a dog fight to get that last official visit but Collins is quickly making up for lost time.
It’s amazing how quickly Muschamp has turned into the enemy. Actually, based on his record he was the enemy while he was here! And, for good reason. Now, trying to flip every person out there. Violating recruiting rules, ragging on the Gators facilities…he’ll do anything to win. Let’s hope his miserable winning record has followed him to Aubren. I don’t wish any bad luck on the guy, but, it wouldn’t hurt my feelings if he lost a few recruits to us. Go Gators.