On Sunday, 2023 five-star defensive tackle James Smith released his top eleven schools. One of the schools listed was the Auburn Tigers. The other schools in the mix are Florida, Ohio State, Alabama State, USC, Jackson State, Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M, Texas, and Miami.
Interestingly enough, Smith is also teammates with 2023 four-star edge rusher Jaquavious Russaw. Russaw also listed his top eleven schools on Sunday as well. The two play for Carver High School in Montgomery, Alabama. As many Auburn fans may remember, the highly-touted high school quarterback named Jeremy Johnson also played at Carver. It is very likely that Smith and Russaw are a package deal.
The two of them work out at Madhouse Training together and have taken several visits together in the past few months. Both took unofficial visits to Texas A&M, Alabama, and Miami. The Tigers have yet to receive either a(n) official or unofficial visit from either one of them. However, with the two being in-state products, the Tigers are in contention to land both.
Smith is listed as a five-star according to 247Sports Recruiting Rankings. He is also listed at 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds. That is a large specimen, to say the least. Smith is certainly a player that Bryan Harsin and his staff have a close eye on. Considering the fact that Montgomery is just an hour away from Auburn, the coaching staff hopes to get Smith on campus sooner rather than later. 247Sports’ recruiting analyst Gabe Brooks compared Smith to Zacch Pickens (a former five-star and current South Carolina defensive lineman). Here is what Brooks had to say about what type of player Smith is:
Physical young defensive lineman who could fit multiple fronts, but likely projects best to 3-tech in an even look. Possesses requisite size/frame. Consistently flashes vs. the run and as a pass rusher. Bull in a china shop who made plays as a freshman with size, strength, tenacity. Impressive closing speed relative to size. Physicality really stands out…
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