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16 offers and counting for Smith

Asked what he wanted to work on most during the offseason, Atlanta (Ga.) St. Pius X School junior cornerback Geno Smith didn't need much time to ponder the question.
"Personally, I need to get stronger in the weightroom, mostly upper body," he said. "So when I face bigger, stronger, more physical receivers I'll be able to hold my own better."
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So far, holding his own hasn't been much of a problem.
Last season, the 6-foot, 165-pound Smith recorded 47 tackles, eight interceptions and 14 pass breakups. And he did this despite also playing tailback for the first time during his prep career.
"I had a great year," Smith said. "I had to go both ways, and that was a task I had to achieve. I think I achieved it very well. I run track, so I'm in pretty good condition. But that first game, I cramped up in the third quarter. I wasn't really used to it. Every other game after that I was fine."
To say that colleges have taken notice of Smith's abilities would be a gross understatement. To date, he already has 16 offers. They have come from programs such as Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.
Auburn was the first to offer, Smith said. Notre Dame, which pulled the trigger two weeks ago, was the most recent to step forward.
According to Smith, there is no leader at the moment.
"Not yet," Smith said. "I'm planning on discussing my favorites in the middle of April, right before summer comes."
This spring, Smith will focus on three things: track and field, an SAT preparation course and making trips to various colleges of interest.
In track, he competes in the 100 and 200 meters, long jump and 4x100 relay. He has been clocked at 10.8 seconds in the 100.
On weekends, he is currently spending his time taking an SAT class. Smith, who carries a B-average, plans to take the actual test March 12.
Once that is in his rear view mirror, Smith hopes to attend a few spring college practices, and later, some camps. Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame and Tennessee were schools he talked specifically about checking out.
"I also plan on going to a lot of different places this summer," Smith said.
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