Nation’s top WR Jeremiah Smith shares feelings about Georgia, recruiting process

The nation’s No. 1 wide receiver is committed to Ohio State but he hasn’t shut the door on other programs. Georgia is one of those programs. The Bulldogs hosted five-star wideout Jeremiah Smith over the weekend for the first of five official visits and to hear the talented pass catcher tell it, UGA is pulling a lot of the right strings.

Smith arrived in Athens on Friday where he met with coaches and settled in. He then participated in the scavenger hunt and spent time with a number of other prospects on Saturday.

On Sunday, he got to meet with the Bulldog head man.

“Georgia is just a great program,” Smith said in an interview with DawgsHQ. “Coach Kirby Smart is a player’s coach. He’s a leader. That’s really why people play for Coach Kirby. You want to play for a guy like Coach Kirby.”

Georgia and Smith go way back…

The connection between Georgia and Smith isn’t some new thing. The two parties go back a few years. UGA was the first school to offer Smith when he was a freshman. The Bulldogs have recruited him heavily since, even after he gave his pledge to Ohio State.

Smith isn’t shy when it comes to his feelings about Ohio State receivers coach and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline. The two have a strong bong and Smith considers Hartline one of the best receivers coaches to ever do it.

But there’s a strong, long-standing connection with Georgia receivers coach Bryan McClendon, who recruited Smith when he was at Oregon. McClendon, who cut his teeth as an assistant coach in Athens, carried that relationship over to his second stint at his alma mater.

Then there’s recent Georgia pledge Dylan Raiola, the nation’s No. 1 overall prospect. Those two have known each other since before they were on the same commitment list together in 2022.

“Dylan and I have a strong relationship since back when we were back at Ohio State,” Smith said. “We’ve been clicking since then. We’ve been texting each and every day. For us coming out here training, I can see he has a great, strong arm. He’s accurate with every throw. He’s the number one player in the country, and I think he might be the best quarterback. If he does well in college, I think he can be the best quarterback of all time. That’s what I feel like.”

The process…

The nation’s No. 2 overall prospect per the On3 Industry Ranking is clearly keeping his options open and weighing them at the same time. He told DawgsHQ that he’s taking visits because he wants to make sure he continues to build valuable relationships. “You never know” when those relationships might be needed down the road.

“I just want to have a strong relationship because I may need it one day,” Smith said. “That’s why I take visits.”

Smith plans to visit Florida, Penn State, and Ohio State officially in the next few weeks. Florida and Miami are also working to get him on campus.

He understands how fans at different schools are going to feel about his decision to take visits. They’re going to read into those visits what they will but he’s not ready to tip his hand. Smith doesn’t know when he’s going to shut things down and he isn’t ready to talk about where things might be trending in his recruitment.

“I’m taking it day-by-day right now,” Smith said. “I can’t really say how I’m feeling right now about certain schools. I don’t want people to feel some type of way. We’ll have to see until signing day is all I have to say.”

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