In-state star Greg Smith picks Florida on signing day
A delayed commitment from December 13 to the 20th may have been cause for concern for some, but Greg Smith stuck with his gut and picked the Florida Gators anyway.
The signing day decision came Wednesday afternoon for the Riverview (Fla.) Sumner athlete, who led the program as its quarterback over the last two seasons. Smith will likely begin his collegiate career in Gainesville as a safety, he tells Rivals.
There may have been more intrigue in the position projection than the destination.
"It's just different there," Smith said. "The atmosphere, the brotherhood, the coaching staff. Being in the Swamp is real different."
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Smith says he has long known UF was the pick for him, despite late charges from Vanderbilt and Virginia, among others.
"It really hit me a few weeks before my official visit," he said. "Back when I was going to games, I just loved it. I just imagined myself on that field.
"So I just needed my family to see it, to love it, and then their light-bulbs hit."
Even though the coaching changes on campus, with Will Harris now in charge of the secondary, it was a smooth transition for Smith because he knew he wanted to be in Gainesville when all was said and done.
"Coach Harris, the first day we talked, we clicked," he said. "I still talked to coach (Austin) Armstrong a lot, as well as other coaches and coach (Billy) Napier, too."
Going forward, the rangy athlete will be able to focus on a singular role on the football field. It's a luxury he hasn't been afforded in quite some time, though the versatility will help with the safety play down the line.
"Me being a quarterback made me understand the defense better," he said. "I know what the quarterback is going to do sometimes, so that gives me the one-up on the offense.
"Plus you don't see a lot of 6-4 safeties that run 4.5, 4.4."
Smith, who also has varsity basketball as well as track and field experience to his name, led Sumner High to an 11-win season in 2023, totaling 39 offensive touchdowns and more than 2,000 total yards from scrimmage in the process.