Smith lands major Pac-12 offer
John Smith apparently had an offer from USC since his freshman year but the Long Beach (Calif.) Poly standout just learned about it on Thursday.
Still, he'll take it.
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The word came from USC assistant coach Kennedy Polamalu that Smith was offered by the Trojans and the 2014 prospect who could play wide receiver or defensive back said it's a huge one.
"Coach Pola said they offered when I was a freshman and I didn't know," Smith said. "I talked to him my freshman year but I didn't know he offered. He was our area recruiter but somebody new came to recruit our area.
"I was in school and I got a text that coach Pola offered since my freshman year. He thought we knew but we didn't know. I think they offered me as an athlete."
USC is the latest offer for Smith, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound prospect who helped lead Long Beach Poly to the state championship bowl game this season.
Smith said all of his other offers - UCLA, Washington, Washington State, Fresno State and San Jose State - are for defensive back but he can excel on either side of the field and shined at wide receiver this season.
The USC offer is big but Smith said he's not going to rush a decision and does not plan to make a commitment until at least his senior season.
"It really is a huge offer for me," Smith said. "Where I'm from in California USC is a big team out here and it means a lot to me to be offered by a good team like that.
"I'm not considering a commitment this early. I'll look more going into my senior year or in the middle of my senior year."