Five-star Smith previews decision

Five-star outside linebacker Rahshaun Smith

doesn't want the public to get a good read on his impending decision. The Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy standout will be announcing his commitment on Thursday outside of Baltimore, his hometown.

"It will be at Buffalo Wild Wings from 5 to 8," said the 6-foot-2, 226-pound Smith. "I'll have a lot of friends and family there because tomorrow is also my birthday. I'll have a couple of surprises and a couple of parents on the table and we'll go from there. It will be live streamed on ESPN online."

As for the schools he is choosing from, Smith is trying to keep everybody on the edge of their seats.

"I will have four hats, two from the SEC, one from the Big Ten and one from the Big 12," he said. "Which hats will be on the table will be a surprise."

There are a lot of schools that could make it onto the table. Smith broke down some of the schools he has been high on in the past.

"Oklahoma was definitely one of my top schools out of the gate," said Smith. "When coach Montgomery left it hit me a little bit. I've been talking to Charles Tapper and the rest of the staff and they brought some new guys in. Charles told me that good things are happening there. With all the stuff that happened there, Charles is one of the frontrunners that are changing that. He's definitely reached out to me about that and said that kids are going to be kids. Some are mature and some aren't. He feels like the school handled it well and it didn't really affect me after that. I talk to coach Stoops a lot and it's a great place.

"Maryland, Penn State and Ohio State are all right next to each other on the shelf," he said. "They all stand right beside each other. I'm thinking about the process for different reasons than most. With Ohio State, they won the National Championship and it's a big plus for the team but I'm not looking at school because they won a National Championship. It's not knock on Ohio State because I love the school and I could see myself playing there one day but I'm looking past football to things that can help me in life after football. Ohio State definitely has some great resources there. Maryland and Penn State are the same way. Both of those schools' alumni networks are out of this world. To go into a job with a Maryland, Penn State or Ohio State degree you already have one foot in the door. That's one of the big things that I've been looking at in this process.

"Things with Alabama have been going really well," Smith said. "They've been recruiting me for a long time and I have a past relationship with coach Aazaar when he was coaching in high school. When I talked to him when he got to Alabama he said I was one of the first guys he wanted to talk to. Having a coach there that you know outside of football definitely intrigued me. When I went down there I put on a good performance and the coaches loved me. I ran a 4.5 and all the coaches said they fell in love with me. I sat down with coach Saban and he explained what they think of me as a player and how much they like me. It was a great visit and I talked to coach Saban after I got to IMG and it was a great conversation.

"When Florida got the new coaching staff I would say the relationship died down a little," he said. "I wasn't getting much love from Florida. It really changed after that. I know a couple people down there like Jalen Tabor. I've been down there once and it was mind blowing being in the Swamp. Jalen told me to make the best move for me but he was telling me about his relationships and ties with Florida. He's from D.C. and I'm from Baltimore but we have the same background. "

Most people believe Clemson will be the school Smith ends up

choosing but it doesn't sound like he has been talking to the coaches much.

"Clemson is definitely a great school," Smith said. "They have great academics and a lot of good things going on with the school. I've been there a few times and I like the school. I haven't been in contact with them much lately coming down to my decision. I'm not sure if it was me."

It seems like there are countless major college prospects at IMG Academy and Smith says some of them have been recruiting him very hard.

"Saivion (Smith) is probably one of the best recruiters there," he said. "I think he's definitely solid to LSU and he's working on a lot of us but he is also working on guys like Sam Bruce and some other guys. He wants this whole team to come down to LSU with him.

"With T.J. (Chase) it's the same thing," said Smith. "He's been trying to get me to come to Clemson. Every night he and Savion go back and forth telling me why I should go to Clemson and why I should go to LSU."

Smith, whose last visits were to Clemson and Miami, said he will contact the coaches at the school he is committing to a few minutes before announcing his decision.

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