Smith cancels UT, down to four
It is getting later in the recruiting process and the intensity for the coaches and players is now at a peak. Four-star offensive lineman Allen Smith (6-5, 325, 5.05) from Tempe (Ariz.) Corona del Sol is beginning to feel intensity. A decision for Smith is nearing.
“I’ve opted not to go on my Tennessee visit due to time constraints,” Smith said. “So I’m down to four schools. I hope to make my decision Friday (Jan. 30th).”
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The lucky four schools are Notre Dame, ASU, UCLA and Stanford.
Smith just returned from the Farm and visited the Stanford Cardinal campus.
“The Stanford visit went very well and my host was Bob Babatunbe,” Smith said. “The environment at Stanford is beautiful and the campus was real nice.”
“I’m leaving Saturday for an unofficial visit with Notre Dame,” Smith said. “I spent yesterday unofficially visiting ASU.”
“I walked around the campus to really get a good feeling of what it would be like to be a student there,” Smith said. “I had lunch with the offensive line coach.”
Needless to say Smith has been getting a lot of local pressure to stay at home and play for ASU.
UCLA, at one time, was Smith’s favorite after a terrific visit to the Westwood campus. Since then there have been numerous message board rumors that the Bruins had fell out of favor.
According to Smith that was never the case.
“When I came back from UCLA I was very excited about the school,” Smith said. “I sort of expected the offensive line coach to be fired but I was a little bit surprised when my recruiter, Coach (Gary) Bernardi was let go.”
“I talked to Coach (Karl) Dorrell and I told him I have to acclimate myself with the new coaches.”
“I already liked the campus and the students,” Smith said. “Coaching stability is a semi-big factor in my decision.”
“I was able to meet (new UCLA offensive line coach) and talk to Mr. (Tom) Cable,” Smith said. “I don’t think I’ve met a more direct and honest man. I think he (Tom Cable) is very good at what he does.”
Smith is a student-athlete in every sense of the word and is a finalist for the very prestigious Watkins award.
Rivals.com currently ranks Smith as the nation’s number 14 offensive tackle prospect. He moved up two slots since the last rating.
Rivals.com rates him the state of Arizona’s number two prospect at any position and he is a member of Rival.com’s Super West 60 where he landed the West’s number 23 prospect at any position.
One of these four fine schools are going to get a very eloquent and elegant young man who as good as a football player he is, he’s a better young man.