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Versatile Offensive Prospect Evan Smith Heating Up on Recruiting Trail

Alabama athlete has options to play quarterback and wide receiver at the next level
John Garcia, Jr.|
Versatile Offensive Prospect Evan Smith Heating Up on Recruiting Trail
Versatile Offensive Prospect Evan Smith Heating Up on Recruiting Trail

It's tough to avoid the rise of Evan Smith from a varsity sports or college football recruiting standpoint. The Birmingham (Ala.) Oak Mountain quarterback, who has been known in the area since starting as a high school freshman, continues to add scholarship offers to his growing list fresh off of helping the basketball program to a state championship. 

Just this week, Duke, Harvard and Yale jumped in with football extensions for the dynamic athlete, who most project as a wide receiver at the collegiate level. Middle Tennessee, Tulane, Samford, Western Kentucky, Western Michigan and several others offered previously. 

Even more Power 5 programs have him on radar, per the Oak Mountain coaching staff.

"My coach tells me Mississippi State and Stanford has been in the talks," Smith said. "Auburn also hit me up a couple weeks ago. 

"We are waiting until the dead period is lifted to make some visits. My plan as of now is to make a decision before the season."

The current NCAA-issued dead period runs through May 31 but there is growing optimism in the college football community that it may be the final extension of the period put in place last March as the pandemic became a reality in America. 

Several schools have begun publicly planning official visits and on-campus prospect camps for the month of June, where rising-seniors like Smith will likely hit the road for the first time in more than a year. The scenario is important for prospects in their evaluation of programs but also for the coaching staffs to get their first in-person look at a potential player. 

It could prove critical for Smith based on the projections of his position varying. As a junior, he lit up the Birmingham area for 1,719 yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground while adding a TD reception and six more as a passer on the campaign. 

Run-first programs like Army and Navy would allow Smith, who was second-team All-State in Alabama's highest classification (7A), to remain at quarterback. Slot receiver, though, is the position that comes up most for the 5'10", 170-pound prospect.

The lone ACC offer on the list, Duke, envisions him as a versatile offensive weapon.

"I love everything about Duke," he said. "I’ve talked to Coach (David) Cutcliffe numerous time over the week. I talk to at least one coach a day and they are really heavy on me. Everything they have to offer checks my box.

"Tulane and Coastal Carolina are pretty heavy. Talk to them every other day."

Smith says there is additional interest coming from Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech and Northwestern, so a final decision won't be simple to execute depending on just how many of the programs interested send an offer his way. 

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John Garcia, Jr.
JOHN GARCIA, JR.

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