The Florida Gators recruiting class of 2018 had three of its members on campus for the Orange and Blue game on Friday night in the Swamp.
Safety C.J. Smith (6-2, 193, West Palm Beach, FL. Oxbridge Academy) was one of the ones on campus and he’s looking forward to seeing a packed house this fall.
“It was amazing, a great atmosphere,” Smith said of Friday’s spring game. “I heard it wasn’t the best atmosphere, but I’m coming to the LSU game for sure.”
Smith committed to Florida two weeks ago and he said several things went into him making that commitment to the Gators.
“A lot. It took me just being here three times,” he said on what went into him committing to Florida two weeks ago. “I got a couple guys that’s coming here from where I’m from. It’s gonna be real good. All of their free safeties are going to the NFL draft, so that means for me to come in there next year. There’s a great chance for me to start as a freshman.”
The safety actually told Gators head coach Jim McElwain and the coaching staff the news during one of his visits to Gainesville and the head man reacted in exciting fashion.
“When I told him in the office he was very excited,” Smith said of how McElwain reacted. “He thought I was joking at first, but I was very serious. My mom was like, ‘Oh my God’. She thought I was gonna wait it out until signing day.”
Defensive backs coach Corey Bell was also a big factor in Smith’s decision and he was explaining how bad Florida needed him.
“He kept it real with me that I have a great chance of coming in and starting at safety,” he said on what Bell told him. “They have a lot of other defensive backs, you know. My high school coach always told me that you’ve gotta come in and compete.”
Bell wasn’t the only coach that played a big part in Smith’s decision as the safety says Florida has several good coaches on staff.
“Amazing. After they got Corey Bell and JaJuan Seider here, it’s a blessing to just be around this whole coaching staff,” he said on his impressions of the coaching staff. “Coach [Drew] Hughes and McElwain, it’s a blessing.”
The safety is already helping the Gators recruit players for this year’s class and he has high hopes for the class come February.
It’s gonna get thick,” Smith said of the 2018 class. “Although Miami’s leading the 2018 class right now, it’s gonna get thick.”
Smith being from South Florida, he’s gunning for Miami as far as recruiting goes in the class of 2018.
“Oh my God, yeah,” he said on if he’s motivated to beat Miami in recruiting. “I ain’t got no beef against them, but that’s my motivation.”
Before Smith ended his interview with Gator Country, the safety had a message for Florida fans.
“Swamp ’18. Stay tuned, man.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Smith says he’s locked into his commitment to Florida and he was recruiting receiver Corey Gammage hard before he committed on Saturday.