CLEMSON RECRUITING

Nation's No. 1 DE and Georgia commit says
Smith makes a move at Monday's The Opening

Nation's No. 1 DE and Georgia commit says "anything can happen" with recruitment


by - Staff Writer -

There are almost seven months until National Signing Day 2019 and for Nolan Smith, his recruitment isn’t over until he signs his National Letter of Intent.

The 5-star Bradenton (FL) IMG defensive has been committed to Georgia since January of 2017, but Smith wants the Clemson coaches to know that if they want a shot to flip him, they’ve got it.

Georgia was Smith’s – the second-ranked overall player according to ESPN and 24/7 – first offer as a freshman, but the relationship with the Clemson coaching staff and former teammates have left the door ever so slightly open for the Tigers.

“Yes. They most definitely do (have a chance),” Smith told TigerNet in an exclusive interview at Nike’s The Opening. “The coaches are cool and I love talking to them. They know football. Add in the fact that they are losing four defensive linemen next year, primarily at my spot, so everybody is going to be gone besides Xavier (Thomas) and K.J. Henry.”

In addition to staying in contact with Clemson’s coaches, Smith also talks frequently with former teammate and Clemson freshman linebacker Mike Jones.

“Mike calls me every week. We don't talk about recruiting because he's one of buds,” Smith said. “We talk about football. Me and Mike are really close. I just love football, so I'm just out here trying to get better. Mike knows I don't care about rankings or anything else. It's all about football. That's why I'm ready to go to college because that ranking stuff goes away. The five-stars aren't five-stars. There are no four stars or three stars. It's about who's going to get on the field.”

Smith said Clemson has several factors working in its favor.

“There are several things that we could talk about that would put Clemson over the top,” he said. “Their facilities are top of the line and everything that they do is top of the line. They're a great program.”

However, if Clemson is to do the unthinkable, the onus will be on the coaches.

"They (the coaches) keep saying, ‘Just give us a shot,’ but I'm like, 'Y'all have a shot. Y'all just have to talk to me.' I don't want them to tell me to give them a shot,” he said. “I just want them to talk to me like a normal person. Anything can happen. It's not over until I sign on the dotted line.”

Smith said he will attend Georgia’s end of summer recruiting function – which happens to be the same night as Clemson’s All In Cookout – because it’s his duty as a commit.

“Yes, but that's just paying respect to my school. I'm a commit. They were the first to offer me in my ninth grade year and I didn't get another offer until my 10th-grade year,” he said.

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Subject (Replies: 58) Author
spacer TNET: Nation's No. 1 DE and Georgia commit says "anything can happen" with recruitment
TigerNet News®
spacer so you're saying there's a chance***
A912
spacer Re: so you're saying there's a chance***
Prime T. Tiger
spacer Re: so you're saying there's a chance***
Gridfan
spacer Re: so you're saying there's a chance***
TigerBigBass
spacer I think he just likes his name being in the headlines...
El Tigre 1
spacer I agree, 99.9%***
Prime T. Tiger
spacer If this was our recruit saying this about another school,
LKN Tiger
spacer Re: If this was our recruit saying this about another school,
NFLU
spacer Re: If this was our recruit saying this about another school,
allorangeallthetime52®
spacer Nolan Smith loves playing the game,
tiger4x4
spacer Re: Nolan Smith loves playing the game,
TRiceNGravy
spacer Re: Nolan Smith loves playing the game,
Carlsbad
spacer Re: Nolan Smith loves playing the game,
Country Gentleman
spacer Re: TNET: Nation's No. 1 DE and Georgia commit says "anything can happen" with recruitment
DawgTiger
spacer He seems confused, wearing a football helmet while
GWPTiger®
spacer Just so everyone knows, tennis balls are used in football
CootNDawgHater
spacer Re: Just so everyone knows, tennis balls are used in football
GWPTiger®
spacer Hmm...this is interesting, or ironic, or...
CootNDawgHater
spacer Re: TNET: Nation's No. 1 DE and Georgia commit says "anything can happen" with recruitment
Calhoun2
spacer Re: TNET: Nation's No. 1 DE and Georgia commit says "anything can happen" with recruitment
DawgTiger
spacer Re: TNET: Nation's No. 1 DE and Georgia commit says "anything can happen" with recruitment
tigertommy46
spacer Re: TNET: Nation's No. 1 DE and Georgia commit says "anything can happen" with recruitment
tigertommy46
spacer Re: TNET: Nation's No. 1 DE and Georgia commit says "anything can happen" with recruitment
Tigerdug23®
spacer He's not coming to Clemson....
ClemBert
spacer I'm pretty sure our coaches have been in contact - unless
V_Bled22
spacer Re: I'm pretty sure our coaches have been in contact - unless
Gridfan
spacer Re: TNET: Nation's No. 1 DE and Georgia commit says "anything can happen" with recruitment
CmoneyTiger
spacer Re: TNET: Nation's No. 1 DE and Georgia commit says "anything can happen" with recruitment
TigerBigBass
spacer Re: TNET: Nation's No. 1 DE and Georgia commit says "anything can happen" with recruitment
kctigs81®
spacer Re: TNET: Nation's No. 1 DE and Georgia commit says "anything can happen" with recruitment
tiger_swimmer®
spacer Re: TNET: Nation's No. 1 DE and Georgia commit says "anything can happen" with recruitment
CmoneyTiger
spacer Just so we are clear…
DawgTiger
spacer Re: Just so we are clear…
CmoneyTiger
spacer Re: Just so we are clear…
TigerBigBass
spacer Re: Just so we are clear…
CmoneyTiger
spacer Re: Just so we are clear…
The Doorman®
spacer Agree if I based my judgement of a fanbase on Tigernet comments
sgraupn
spacer Thanks for the astute observations
SocMan2®
spacer Holy crap. Finally, someone with some sense!
nkickha
spacer The young man grew up in Savannah, GA
SocMan2®
spacer Re: The young man grew up in Savannah, GA
CmoneyTiger
spacer Agree C$T - just don't like kid verbally committing
SocMan2®
spacer Re: Agree C$T - just don't like kid verbally committing
CmoneyTiger
spacer Re: TNET: Nation's No. 1 DE and Georgia commit says "anything can happen" with recruitment
Iron4044®
spacer Re: TNET: Nation's No. 1 DE and Georgia commit says "anything can happen" with recruitment
ColumbiaTiger66
spacer Re: TNET: Nation's No. 1 DE and Georgia commit says "anything can happen" with recruitment
wewillROCKyou
spacer Wish we'd stop covering this guy unless he officially flips
flyslyw
spacer Re: Wish we'd stop covering this guy unless he officially flips
allorangeallthetime52®
spacer Re: TNET: Nation's No. 1 DE and Georgia commit says "anything can happen" with recruitment
b2westfarm
spacer Re: TNET: Nation's No. 1 DE and Georgia commit says "anything can happen" with recruitment
Joe21®
spacer Exactly. He says Clemson coaches just need to talk to him
stretch
spacer Re: TNET: Nation's No. 1 DE and Georgia commit says "anything can happen" with recruitment
timberbear®
spacer Re: TNET: Nation's No. 1 DE and Georgia commit says "anything can happen" with recruitment
Felix2
spacer Re: TNET: Nation's No. 1 DE and Georgia commit says "anything can happen" with recruitment
OrangeBoogie55
spacer FYI for Tiger Coaching Staff
SocMan2®
spacer No thanks.
Baltimore Tiger®
spacer Re: No thanks.
92citadelgrad®
spacer Re: No thanks.
dgcannon39