Jeremiah Smith, nation’s No. 1 recruit, enjoys ‘intense’ Florida Gators practice

The Florida Gators appear to have impressed 5-star receiver Jeremiah Smith during the team’s first preseason practice Monday, which he attended.

“It was good,” Smith told Gators Online. “I got to see them practice and go over drills — looked real intense. It was good — very intense. They looked good.”

Smith, who plays at Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna Prep, is a longtime Ohio State commit. But he continues to visit the Gators. He previously made an official visit to Gainesville in June, then was back in town a couple weeks later for a 7-on-7 camp.

Smith, the No. 1 overall recruit in the country for the On3 Industry Rankings, arrived in Gainesville, Fla., on Sunday after spending the previous few days at Florida State.

While at Florida, Jeremiah Smith re-connected with 5-star Gators quarterback commit DJ Lagway of Willis (Texas). Lagway, the No. 30 overall recruit in the country for the On3 Industry Rankings, arrived in Gainesville on Friday with his parents, younger brother and Jermaine Bishop, his teammate at Willis (Texas). All of them attended Florida’s Grill in the Ville recruiting event Saturday.

Lagway initially planned to head home Sunday, but instead extended his visit an extra day so he and Smith could meet up.

Jeremiah Smith arrived in Gainesville on Sunday

While in Gainesville on Sunday and Monday, Smith and Lagway not only had a chance to talk quite a bit, but they also rode scooters around campus. Both prospect then watched practice together Monday.

“It was cool just interacting (with him),” Smith said. “Getting to talk to someone else who is going through the same process and talking about the school.”

Smith has said in interviews it won’t be easy to flip him from the Buckeyes, but he plans to keep an open mind and won’t shut things down until he signs in December. He previously has told Gators Online he’s likely to attend a game at Florida this season.

According to Smith, how Florida looks on the field in 2023 will be important to him. That’s something he talked about with Gators coach Billy Napier during his two-day visit that concluded Monday.

“It was good (chatting with Napier),” Jeremiah Smith said. “Had a great conversation about football and life after football.”

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