Top-10 IOL will take Miami OV this weekend, gives latest as Canes battle Georgia, Georgia Tech and South Carolina

Snellville (Ga.) Parkview 2025 four-star interior offensive lineman Cortez Smith knows his recruitment is winding down. And he knows he’s focusing on four schools ahead of a decision later this summer.

Smith is locking in on Miami, Georgia, Georgia Tech and South Carolina with a decision set for July 20, the No. 10 interior offensive lineman and No. 151 overall prospect in the On300 told CaneSport. Smith took an official visit to South Carolina last weekend, will visit Miami this weekend, Georgia Tech June 14 and Georgia June 21. Miami offensive line coach Alex Mirabal stopped by Smith’s school last month to watch the 6-foot-2, 270-pound offensive guard practice and has maintained a strong relationship with Smith, who said he wanted to visit this weekend to take a deeper dive inside Miami’s program.

Smith last visited in April after previously attending the Hurricanes’ Jan. 27 junior day.

“I really love the Miami culture,” Smith said. “Just the coaches and the players, they have like-minded mentalities and they want to win. They know what they’re doing and they’re really wise (coaches) to be around.”

Smith said he wants to generally learn more about the program on his official visit and believes this month’s official visits could play a role in influencing his final decision next month. Miami’s record of developing offensive linemen and Mirabal and head coach Mario Cristobal’s investment in the offensive line have kept the Hurricanes a contender in his recruitment. He said all four schools are making similar pushes and have ramped up communication over the last month, but he wants to take deeper looks at practice facilities, campuses and academic opportunities.

Smith has visited Georgia (he lives about 90 minutes away) more than twice as many times as his next most-visited school and thinks the amount of face time he’s had with the Bulldogs’ coaches could play a small role in his decision, although he doesn’t think it’ll be the deciding factor. Neither Smith nor his family have any issue leaving the state.

How a school can set him up for life after football will be the separating factor in his recruitment, he said. And he expects Miami to be in the mix until his decision.

“I don’t mind going out of state and spreading my wings,” Smith said.

CaneSport’s Take

Georgia has been the obvious favorite to land Smith for awhile, but if anyone can pull him out of the Peach State, I think it could be Miami. The Hurricanes put their foot on the gas in January and haven’t let up for the four-star prospect, and their relationship with Smith gives Miami a real chance.

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