Taft star wants to take his time

With one offer on the table and more sure to come, it looks like things are set to heat up for one of the nation's top athletes and one of the top players from the Golden State in the class of 2007.

So what's the latest with Woodlands Hills (Calif.) Taft standout Malcolm Smith?

"I've been hearing from a lot of teams," Smith said about the mail he's being receiving. "The teams I can think of right now are Texas Tech, Florida State and USC. I'm not sure about who else right now and I don't know about new offers or anything either."

Ole Miss stepped up to the plate early with a scholarship offer in late January. It was the first of what is believed to be many offers for the two-time all-city selection that rushed for 639 yards and 10 touchdowns, helping his team to a 13-1 record and a second place finish in the Los Angeles City Section.

Smith also had 26 receptions for 399 yards and seven touchdowns. He even got it done on defense with 41 tackles and two sacks. But success is expected because football is in his blood.

As everybody knows by now, Smith is the younger brother of USC receiver Steve Smith. And hid older brother's success in college is going to be something Malcolm will lean on when it comes time to tackle the recruiting process.

"My brother will probably give me his two-cents, but just because he went to USC doesn't mean I'm going there," Smith said. "That's not that big of a deal to me. It's a great school, though, but if I went there it wouldn't be because my brother did.

"I'm listening to everybody. I'd like to stay close to home, but if I go somewhere and feel comfortable away from home then that's where I'll be. I'd like to find a place near home that I'm comfortable with, though."

Smith has figured out some things that will be key in his decision.

"I'll look at the environment at the school with the students and everything," he said. "The classes they offer academically and then the team chemistry and stuff like that will be important for me. And I want to go to a place where I can win. Winning is important to me, too."