3-Star RB Darrin Smith weighing offers from all over the map

DALLAS, Tex. -- Frisco all-purpose back Darrin Smith is one of the top all-purpose back prospects in Texas, and programs far-and-wide have taken notice.

Out-of-state teams have been more assertive in trying to win his favor, but he’s been active taking recent visits to in-state programs as well. The highlight of those recent trips came during his most recent trip just out to nearby TCU, where he picked up his most recent offer.

“I absolutely love it with Coach (Gary) Patterson having been there for so long and what they’ve built there is truly special,” he said. “They finished in the Top 10 last season which is absolutely great, so I can most definitely see myself there with what they are trying to do.”

Otherwise, Smith is fresh off of visits to two other Texas programs that could be looking to step up their interest in him in Baylor and Texas A&M. The Bears in particular signed a couple of prospects in 2018 that are comparable to Smith in Craig Williams and Joshua Fleeks, so he would certainly seem to be a fit with the direction Matt Rhule has been trying to take his team’s offense.

“That’s two top-notch programs,” he said. “Baylor is getting back to their rugged form and A&M is always a powerhouse. I feel like Coach (Jimbo) Fisher with his leadership, and everything that he’s willing to do he’s gonna get them right.

“Baylor likes speed. They like getting their players in space and that’s what they’re going to do. Now, they’re running backs coach is from the NFL and he’s really big on pass-protection.”

Other programs that Smith might look to visit this spring include Arizona, FAU and UConn, but that trio may need to step up its game when it comes to making up some ground with him sooner than later.

On Arizona, where Smith plans to visit April 7

“I hear from them all the time,” he said. “You know they came from A&M and I feel like after looking at the backs that they’ve had at A&M and the sort of backs that they’re recruiting at Arizona right now that I could be the kind of playmaker they’re looking for.”

On FAU

“That’s a really great up-and-coming program,” he said. “I like FAU; it’s a great location, always has great weather, their running back coach [Kevin Smith] is really good - he played some really good teams. He really knows the game.”

On UConn

“Not a lot of people have that offer, so I am really thankful for that one,” he said. “They want me really bad and I feel like I can go up there and make a huge impact early … When [the new staff] got there, they didn’t have a lot of athletes there, but they’re trying to create a pro-style spread offense so they can get the new guys coming in out in space.”

Prior to TCU getting more seriously involved with Smith, one of the things that he was drawn to with UConn was new head coach Randy Edsall’s pitch of his NFL connections. However, the appeal of playing for a closer, more well-established program like TCU could certainly trump that. Smith has played with the idea of trying to commit early in the spring if possible, so his consideration of all the teams involved with him could be headed towards a more accelerated timeline.