Big targets recruitment ready to take off

DORAL, Fla. - With five offers before the end of his junior year, Miami (Fla.) Archbishop Carroll wide receiver Rodney Smith has a lot to be excited about. However, he isn't satisfied with just five offers and he shouldn't be. With his size and athleticism, Smith will ultimately have an offer list that is long and impressive.

"I've got five offers already," Smith said. "UCF, USF, Minnesota, Central Michigan and FIU. I like USC a lot, USC and LSU."

Most of the communication with the college coaches thus far in the process has been through his own high school coaches and based on that communication Smith thinks things are about to pick up.

"My coaches, they told me everything," he said. "Everybody's just waiting on my SAT score to come back and then I'll get offered by everybody in the country."

In case you think Smith is just talk, take closer look. He stands at a legit 6-foot-5 and 200-plus pounds. As a junior he compiled 650 yards receiving on 30 catches with 8 touchdowns. He also played defense where he had 35 tackles, three interceptions and took two back for touchdowns.

Despite his 6-foot-5 frame, Smith can run too. A track athlete, Smith has been timed at 4.5 in the 40 yard dash, 10.9 in the 100 meters, 200 meters at 22.1 seconds and 49 seconds flat in the grueling 400 meter sprint.

With that kind of athleticism, it's easy to see that he has every reason to target top tier programs like LSU and USC.

"USC likes big receivers," he said of the Trojans. "They throw the ball to them a lot. I feel like I could make a big impact early there."

He explained his interest in the Tigers as well.

"I met Les Miles at the end of my sophomore year. He seemed like a real cool coach, real down to earth."

On Sunday, Smith was practicing with his Broward/Dade County all-star team that will be competing in the New Level Athletic Southeast 7 on 7 Tournament. Despite a team that is loaded with D-I prospects and high-level talent, Smith stood out on the field and was the most productive receiver on the day. He looked at the afternoon as an opportunity to prove himself.

"Everybody thinks that because I go to a small school that there's no as much talent, so can show them that I can do the same thing against the best players."

With LSU and USC high on his list, Smith hopes to show that he can compete with the best players in college as well.