Rivals250 LB setting visits

Class of 2015 Murfressboro (Tenn.) Oakland and Rivals250 linebacker Josh Smith has been committed to Vanderbilt since the summer. But with National Signing Day right around the corner, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound prospect is making sure he does his due diligence before signing on the dotted line.

"I feel obligated to take my official visits to enjoy the process and make sure the place I pick for the next four years is where I want to be," Smiths aid. "I don't want any excuses, no ifs, ands or buts. I'm still committed to Vanderbilt and it's a great school but I want to make sure I'm making the right decision.

Smith will take an official visit to Kentucky this weekend (he arrived in Lexington on Friday night with freshman Denzel Ware serving as his host), and follow that with trips to Oklahoma (Jan. 16), California (Jan. 20), Ole Miss (Jan. 23) and Vanderbilt (Jan. 30). Smith broke down each of the schools that made the cut.

Kentucky: "I want to see the academics and what they have to offer. I'm happy to be going on the trip and I'm glad for the opportunity. I've been up there multiple times and I wanted to give them one last look. School wise they have some good opportunities and the football program is on the come up. I would like the opportunity to establish myself at a program that is on the rise and be a part of a team that is making history for the first time. Me and Coach Ansley have a great relationship and he hasn't given up since I committed so now I will give them a look."

Oklahoma: "They just came out of nowhere and they really let me know that they were interested when they found out I was looking at taking other visits. It's a great storied program with a ton of history and I want to go out there and see what they have to offer. The linebacker coach came to my school and told me how bad they need playmakers at that position and they think I would be a good fit. They have come on strong and I want to go out there and give them a shot."

California: "I'm going to take a mid-week visit out there. I really wanted to make sure I gave them a chance and that's the only way we could fit it in. The academics there are amazing and I want go to go into engineering and they're the top program in the nation. You can't get anything better than that and I want to see it for myself. They are good in football but they can have improvements and I know they're trying to bring in a lot of talent."

Ole Miss: " Ole Miss is another school that has been with me for a long time and when I decided to take more visits I wanted to give them an opportunity. I have talked to Coach Harris for a while and now I want to get there and see what they have to offer. Ole Miss is a school that I think could be a good fit and I want to see and learn some more things about the program."

Vanderbilt: "I really wanted to take a look and make sure this is the school I want to go to. I also want to enjoy the process because you only go through it once. When I take the visit to Vanderbilt I want to make sure I can build a new relationship and get the new coaches. That's a big thing for me, talking to and getting to know the staff. They fired the defensive coordinator and he was my position coach and the guy I had built the best relationship with. Now I have to start over and get to know the new coach they bring in."

Smith finished his senior season with 128 total tackles, 8.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and one interception.