No. 1 WR Recruit Smith Talks New Miami Coaches Dawson, Beard

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. -- Supporting teammates and fellow south Floridians at the Under Armour Next All-America camp on Sunday, No. 1-ranked wide receiver recruit Jeremiah Smith still drew plenty of attention. 

The Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade Madonna rising-senior recruit, committed to Ohio State since mid December, continues to hear from several college football programs consistently. Local Miami and Georgia, Smith said, are among the coaching staffs checking in most frequently. 

At The U it means a pair of new coaches are beginning to build rapport with Smith beyond head coach Mario Cristobal. 

Smith has some history with both new Hurricane hires in offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson and wide receivers coach Kevin Beard.

Several star south Florida wide receiver recruits were happy to see Cristobal bring Beard in.

"He keeps it real with you, like Joshisa Trader and Chance (Robinson) have said," Smith told All Hurricanes. "It's the same thing. He keeps it real on all types of stuff, the love of football and stuff like that." 

Beard is a south Florida native who of course starred at Miami at the position. With Dawson, Smith's ties push back to one of the most electric offenses in recent college football history, piloted by another Broward County legend.

"Coach Dawson and I have spoken a little bit, he really just wants me to give them a chance," Smith said. "And to check them out. He coached my cousin, Geno Smith, at West Virginia. 

"I could see myself in that offense for sure." 

Smith understands the process of being courted by other programs despite the OSU verbal commitment, something he reciprocates as due diligence to build up backup plans as a recruit given the fluidity of the coaching carousel in a given year. 

The five-star recruit saw Florida State on Saturday and is considering additional visits to Georgia, USC and Miami in addition to Ohio State. Even official visits are being considered away from home. 

Expect Miami to get Smith back on campus in an unofficial capacity.

"I'm not going to take one (an official visit) to Miami, because that's just right there," he said.

Smith checks in as the top-ranked wide receiver recruit in the class of 2024 as well as the top overall offensive prospect via On3.

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