Peach State DL Nasir Smith talks Tennessee, recruitment

2024 Grayson (Ga.) defensive lineman Nasir Smith is enjoying the recruiting process as he readies for a big season on the gridiron. He is hearing from a handful of schools, including Tennessee, and he shares the latest with Volquest.

Tennessee extended an offer to Smith in May of 2022, ad he has enjoyed his relationship with the Vols since.

“I just like the atmosphere there,” Smith said of what stands out about Tennessee. “The fanbase was crazy when I went up there to a game. They were different. It is different.”

He has also built a strong bond with Tennessee defensive line coach Rodney Garner.

“Coach G, I love Coach G,” Smith said of what he likes about the veteran coach. “He is upfront and honest with me. He lets me know everything I need and everything that I have to work on. If I am doing something right, he will tell me, but if I am doing something wrong, he will let me know about that too. I like that about him.”

The 6-4, 290 pound prospect is also high on how Garner develops his players.

“I see how he develops guy that are newer to football into top NFL picks,” Smith said on this. “I am that type of guy. It is my third year playing, so I feel like he is very good at developing people into being great.”

Garner has also been direct with his message to Smith on what he likes about his game.

“He likes how I am so athletic and how I can get off of blocks so fast because I am so twitchy,” the three-star prospect said of this.

In addition to Tennessee, Smith is hearing from “USF, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss” consistently. He also has several schools that are planning to pay close atttention to his on-field performance this fall.

Smith plans to take an official visit to Tennessee sometime in September for the South Carolina game, then make a decision sometime later in his season.

As he works toward a decision, he will focus on one key aspect.

“The main thing is how the coaches are,” Smith said of this. “I don’t want to go somewhere and play for coaches that I don’t want to show up and work hard for everyday. That is probably the biggest thing for me.”

The post Peach State DL Nasir Smith talks Tennessee, recruitment appeared first on On3.