Smith set to hit the road

Neptune Beach (Fla.) Fletcher three-star running back Jamari Smith has racked up around 20 offers at this stage of the process. With his spring season concluded, he intends to figure out his future home in the coming summer months. According to his head coach, Josh Corey, one of his offers is currently standing out.

"He is really liking South Carolina right now," Corey said.

While the Gamecocks are standing out, the 6-foot, 200-pound back isn't quite ready to make a decision. Smith has previously visited South Carolina, Wake Forest, Duke, and N.C. State. He is planning to hit the road again in June.

"He is going to camp at Florida for the day and then at Florida State," Corey said. "Then I believe he may be going to Miami as well."

Smith is heading to those schools to try and earn an offer by showing his ability on the field in a camp setting.

"They want to work him out on the field first before they decide to extend an offer and more importantly allow him to commit," Corey said.

While Smith shines at running back for Fletcher, some other schools are intrigued by what he could do as a defensive back.

"When Florida came by the school a couple weeks ago, they told me that Jamari Smith is a guy that they want from Jacksonville," Corey said. "He said he is one of the five guys from Jacksonville-area that they want. He said that while he is a great running back, they want him to possibly play on the other side of the football if that is what works out. … I think an offer from Florida would be with the intent that he may have to play defensive back.

"I think Miami may be looking at him in the same capacity (as Florida)," Corey added.

While the Gators and Hurricanes are interested in him on defense, the Seminoles are still studying him at running back.

"FSU hasn't mentioned that," Corey said of playing defensive back. "They are still on the running back deal."

With regards to a potential position change, the Northeast Florida product is open to the idea.

"Jamari is pretty open to it," Smith said of playing on either side of the ball. "I thought he would be totally against it, but he has kind of embraced it. I think he would do just about anything to go to the place he really wants to go and I don't think he is opposed to playing on the other side of the ball."

As for additional visits to other schools, Corey says that will likely depend on how his camp visits to the in-state schools go.

"If they don't work out, he could start to make some arrangements to see some other schools," Corey said. "That is kind of where he is at, just needing to get on both of those campuses and get in front of those coaching staffs to see what they think and kind of evaluate them as well."

Smith is hoping to have a decision in the coming months.

"I think some time in the near future after going to those camps for the day, that he is going to sit down and kind of make his decision," Corey said. "I think it will be sometime towards the end of June. I think it is important to him to try and make a decision over the summer if that is possible. In speaking with him, that is his preference, to try and get it out of the way before the fall comes so he can concentrate on the season and things like that."

As a junior, Smith had 2,178 yards on 295 carries and scored 24 touchdowns.