Pac-12 commit plans Arkansas trip
Caleb Smith committed to Oregon State over the summer but the Renton (Was.) Kentridge tight end just received an offer from Arkansas and it definitely has the three-star prospect thinking a lot.
The 6-foot-7, 240-pound recruit said he's strongly considering a visit to Arkansas in January and that the offer from the Razorbacks is definitely a big one.
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"It's actually pretty huge for me just getting that top-caliber recognition," Smith said. "From the beginning I thought I could compete with the best and this kind of proves it so it was a big one for me.
"I'm going to try to get down there in January. One of their coaches, coach (Kris) Cinkovich, is coming up (Monday) morning to see me. It's definitely sparked some interest.
"My first contact with them was Tuesday and they asked for my senior tape and I sent it to them and the next day I got a call from coach Cinkovich and he offered me so they have to be pretty interested."
Smith is thinking about a visit to Washington State but before he schedules it he wants to talk with new coach Mike Leach, who was hired last week. The Kentridge prospect said Leach's hiring has sparked a lot of local interest.
"People are big Coug fans out here, even if they live on the West side of the state, and people are hardcore about their teams out here," Smith said. "As soon as something good comes up they're going to jump on the bandwagon."
The three-star had also planned to visit UCLA but after coach Rick Neuheisel was fired Smith isn't so sure any longer. He said he'll wait to see who is hired and then decide whether he's going to take that trip.
"I was going to visit UCLA and the whole coaching situation is messy down there so I have to wait until that straightens out and possibly take a visit down there," Smith said.
Oregon State is still in good position with Smith, rated as the No. 23 tight end in the 2012 class by Rivals.com, but after some new offers have come in - especially the one from Arkansas - he said taking some trips will give him a better look at what's available.
"I'm still committed," Smith said. "I still see myself playing there but I can't see where it hurts seeing what else is out there."