The top-ranked player in the ESPN 300, Trey Smith, has already narrowed down his choices to six, but with the start of the season upon us the 6-foot-6, 299-pound offensive tackle is zeroing in on taking visits.
Ohio State, Ole Miss, Alabama, Tennessee, Clemson and Notre Dame are the six schools in the running for Smith and the home-state Volunteers should have plenty of opportunities to impress the talented prospect.
Smith’s older sister, a Tennessee graduate, now works in the football operations department for the Vols. With the five-star prospect’s proximity to home, combined with an opportunity for Smith and his family to visit his sister, there are at least three trips scheduled to see the Volunteers play this season.
“Most of my visits right now, because of my sister working up there, are to see Tennessee,” Smith said. “But I’ll be going to the Tennessee-Florida game (Sept. 24), Tennessee-Alabama (Oct. 15), and I think we might go to the Battle at Bristol (Tennessee-Virginia Tech on Saturday) just for the significance of it being the largest college football game ever.
“We are going to go to the Ole Miss home game against Alabama (Sept. 17), the Ole Miss-Auburn game, I think and we are looking at a Notre Dame game to get to.”
While most of these visits will be unofficial, there’s a chance some could turn in to official visits for Smith.
“We haven’t set up our officials yet,” Smith said. “My dad and I are still debating whether we are going to take an official during a game day or during a bye week. Because the coaches are telling us that if we do it during a bye week, they can really wine and dine you and spend more quality time with you. They would be able to devote more of their time on a bye week and make it a better trip.”
Smith, an Under Armour All-American, is planning to enroll early and therefore plans to make his decision shortly after his season ends.
“My dad and I have talked about it,” he said. “We thought Dec. 7 would be a good date, but I’m not sure about that date. So I’ll say some time around that first or second week of December, in that time range.”
Ohio State, Ole Miss, Alabama, Tennessee, Clemson and Notre Dame are the six schools in the running for Smith and the home-state Volunteers should have plenty of opportunities to impress the talented prospect.
Smith’s older sister, a Tennessee graduate, now works in the football operations department for the Vols. With the five-star prospect’s proximity to home, combined with an opportunity for Smith and his family to visit his sister, there are at least three trips scheduled to see the Volunteers play this season.
“Most of my visits right now, because of my sister working up there, are to see Tennessee,” Smith said. “But I’ll be going to the Tennessee-Florida game (Sept. 24), Tennessee-Alabama (Oct. 15), and I think we might go to the Battle at Bristol (Tennessee-Virginia Tech on Saturday) just for the significance of it being the largest college football game ever.
“We are going to go to the Ole Miss home game against Alabama (Sept. 17), the Ole Miss-Auburn game, I think and we are looking at a Notre Dame game to get to.”
While most of these visits will be unofficial, there’s a chance some could turn in to official visits for Smith.
“We haven’t set up our officials yet,” Smith said. “My dad and I are still debating whether we are going to take an official during a game day or during a bye week. Because the coaches are telling us that if we do it during a bye week, they can really wine and dine you and spend more quality time with you. They would be able to devote more of their time on a bye week and make it a better trip.”
Smith, an Under Armour All-American, is planning to enroll early and therefore plans to make his decision shortly after his season ends.
“My dad and I have talked about it,” he said. “We thought Dec. 7 would be a good date, but I’m not sure about that date. So I’ll say some time around that first or second week of December, in that time range.”
