Austin Smith is bad man. He is tough as nails, he is strong as an ox, he competes non-stop and he is driven to be the best that he can be. Many schools see what Smith is about and that is why around he has around 20 scholarship offers.
The 6-foot-3, 275 pound defensive tackle out of McDonough (Ga.) Ola is in regular contact with numerous college programs, but there are four that sit higher on his list than the rest early in May.
"Virginia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky and North Carolina are my top four schools," said Smith. "Out of those schools, Georgia Tech, Kentucky and Virginia are hitting me up on a daily basis to check in with me and see how I am doing. They are recruiting a little harder than North Carolina, but I still have a lot of interest in them too."
The Tar Heels may not be in pursuit of Smith quite are hard as the other three, but he knows about the degree they offer and that keeps them up there for him.
"North Carolina is a great Business school and that is big for me. I have been up there for a visit last season and I really liked it. I like the academics and the campus up there. They were one of my first offers too, so that is pretty nice. The main thing though is the education there. That is very important to me and I know North Carolina could help me after football."
The lone school Smith has yet to visit in his top four is Virginia. He plans to head north to see the Cavaliers this summer.
"I am really looking on how a school can help me after football and Virginia is another school that is great in Business and that is something I am really looking into. I want to learn more about the educational program that they offer and just see how I feel on their campus this summer. I talk to coach [Kelly] Poppinger (outside linebackers) and he is always letting me know that they need me, that I have a great chance of playing there and how I could be a factor there. Those things are always good to hear."
When Smith made the trek up to Lexington (Ken.), it was for a basketball game. He saw Kentucky play Kansas, so the hoops atmosphere was great, but what has Smith's attention when it comes to the Wildcats is how they are recruiting him.
"I am always talking with coach [Matt] House (defensive coordinator/inside linebackers) and he is a great guy," said House. "I see him as a caring coach and someone who takes care of his players and that stands out to me a lot. I look forward to playing for a coach like that and I feel he is someone who will support me and do all that he can to show me the way to succeed. I like their facilities too and the football program has been doing well the last few years."
The school Smith has visited the most is Georgia Tech. It is right up I-75 north, so it is easy for Smith and his family to get to and the fact that it is now far away is the message the Yellow Jackets are using to recruit him.
"They are telling me to stay home, stay close to my family and how that would be great for me. My family would love for me to be close and I do keep that in mind. I like how coach [Paul] Johnson always shoots things straight and they have made me feel like I am important to them. The educational program is very strong and I like the vibe there. The community is close and that is a good thing when it comes to life after football."
Location could give Georgia Tech a slight edge, but Smith is not ready to name a leader yet. That distance could be key in the end when he decides later this summer.
"I am going to put everything into the equation, but being close could be a factor for me and my family," said Smith. "I am going to put a lot of thought into recruiting this summer. I am going to have some time with family to hear their thoughts too. They know me, so I want to hear what they have to say.
"A big factor for me personally will be if I feel I am part of the family. I don't want to be just a football player, I want to be part of the family. That and how the coaches are with me are very important.
"I feel I will know this summer where I want to go. My goal is to have it done before football season starts."
