2021 Miami Palmetto (FL) WR Brashard Smith signed with the Miami Hurricanes today.
The 5-9 190 pounder is currently a consensus 4-star prospect in the national rankings. According to the 247Sports Composite Ranking, Smith is the #215 player nationally in 2021, the #37 WR in the country, and the #32 player in Florida.
Recruiting Story
Smith began earning Power 5 attention after an impressive sophomore season in 2018 where he was a threat at both running back and wide receiver for the Panthers. The Canes got involved when they offered Smith in May of 2019, and he was a frequent visitor to Coral Gables over the next few months. Even though the Miami Palmetto star decided to make a commitment to the Florida Gators in early January 2020 after their strong season on the field, that didn’t stop Smith from continuing to make UM visits, including for Miami’s junior day event just weeks later. In part because of the pandemic, Smith re-evaluated his options and decommitted from UF this May, including Miami in his top 5 release later in the month. Soon after, Smith really began to warm up to the idea of staying close to home for school and the Canes essentially led the rest of the way, culminating in his commitment to the UM staff in July. Smith chose UM over offers from UF, Oregon, Auburn, and Tennessee among others.
Evaluation
On film, Smith is an electric speed demon that’s a threat to score every time he touches the ball, as shown by his 13 TD’s on 36 catches in 2019. Slot dynamo with impressive breakaway speed in the open field when he turns on the jets. Top-notch acceleration that can go from 0-60 in a hurry. Remarkable stop-start ability. Creates separation with ease to give himself (and his QB) space to go to work, and is also a danger in the screen game. Incredible concentration and hands that can reel in most anything in his vicinity. Despite a smaller frame, he is compact and is a tough runner through contact, sports great balance, and does not go down easily. Continuing to improve his route running would really take his game to the next level. Offers a body type that is muscularly developed and near-ready for the college level. Will be a fun instrument for Rhett Lashlee to utilize in his scheme and Smith’s style of play is pretty much a must for any spread offense.
Recorded a 4.34 shuttle time and 29.50 inch vertical in testing at the Opening Miami Regional in February 2019. Has been clocked in the 4.4 40-yard dash range in the past.
The Team
Smith joins Miami Northwestern (FL) 4-star WR Romello Brinson and Plantation (FL) 4-star Jacolby George as this class’ haul at receiver. Getting that trio to sign with UM was huge considering the overall struggles of the receiver group in 2020, despite some big individual games. Miami’s best performer at the position in Mike Harley could potentially leave over the offseason, leaving the inconsistent Mark Pope and Dee Wiggins as the only returnees that have any semblance of production to their name. What was also concerning is that none of Miami’s four freshman WR’s really made a name for themselves in 2020 despite having every opportunity to earn playing time; ditto for Jeremiah Payton.
Redshirt Probability: 3/10
Smith offers a frame and style of play that Miami does not currently have on their roster; that is to say he possesses elite speed out of the slot paired with a developed build to fight off press coverage. That should give him an advantage over other players on the team and his classmates, and I see Smith as the most likely of the freshmen receivers to earn a role in the rotation in 2021 even though he is still learning the position on a technical-level. UM is hungry for a playmaker at receiver and he is enrolling early for spring to get a jump on learning the system and improving his route running. Receiver is going to be a position where anybody that can make plays will see the field even without flawless technique, so I don’t see the coaches keeping Smith on the bench if he can show that ability. The likelihood for consistent PT would increase even more if Harley leaves.
The 5-9 190 pounder is currently a consensus 4-star prospect in the national rankings. According to the 247Sports Composite Ranking, Smith is the #215 player nationally in 2021, the #37 WR in the country, and the #32 player in Florida.
Recruiting Story
Smith began earning Power 5 attention after an impressive sophomore season in 2018 where he was a threat at both running back and wide receiver for the Panthers. The Canes got involved when they offered Smith in May of 2019, and he was a frequent visitor to Coral Gables over the next few months. Even though the Miami Palmetto star decided to make a commitment to the Florida Gators in early January 2020 after their strong season on the field, that didn’t stop Smith from continuing to make UM visits, including for Miami’s junior day event just weeks later. In part because of the pandemic, Smith re-evaluated his options and decommitted from UF this May, including Miami in his top 5 release later in the month. Soon after, Smith really began to warm up to the idea of staying close to home for school and the Canes essentially led the rest of the way, culminating in his commitment to the UM staff in July. Smith chose UM over offers from UF, Oregon, Auburn, and Tennessee among others.
Evaluation
On film, Smith is an electric speed demon that’s a threat to score every time he touches the ball, as shown by his 13 TD’s on 36 catches in 2019. Slot dynamo with impressive breakaway speed in the open field when he turns on the jets. Top-notch acceleration that can go from 0-60 in a hurry. Remarkable stop-start ability. Creates separation with ease to give himself (and his QB) space to go to work, and is also a danger in the screen game. Incredible concentration and hands that can reel in most anything in his vicinity. Despite a smaller frame, he is compact and is a tough runner through contact, sports great balance, and does not go down easily. Continuing to improve his route running would really take his game to the next level. Offers a body type that is muscularly developed and near-ready for the college level. Will be a fun instrument for Rhett Lashlee to utilize in his scheme and Smith’s style of play is pretty much a must for any spread offense.
Recorded a 4.34 shuttle time and 29.50 inch vertical in testing at the Opening Miami Regional in February 2019. Has been clocked in the 4.4 40-yard dash range in the past.
The Team
Smith joins Miami Northwestern (FL) 4-star WR Romello Brinson and Plantation (FL) 4-star Jacolby George as this class’ haul at receiver. Getting that trio to sign with UM was huge considering the overall struggles of the receiver group in 2020, despite some big individual games. Miami’s best performer at the position in Mike Harley could potentially leave over the offseason, leaving the inconsistent Mark Pope and Dee Wiggins as the only returnees that have any semblance of production to their name. What was also concerning is that none of Miami’s four freshman WR’s really made a name for themselves in 2020 despite having every opportunity to earn playing time; ditto for Jeremiah Payton.
Redshirt Probability: 3/10
Smith offers a frame and style of play that Miami does not currently have on their roster; that is to say he possesses elite speed out of the slot paired with a developed build to fight off press coverage. That should give him an advantage over other players on the team and his classmates, and I see Smith as the most likely of the freshmen receivers to earn a role in the rotation in 2021 even though he is still learning the position on a technical-level. UM is hungry for a playmaker at receiver and he is enrolling early for spring to get a jump on learning the system and improving his route running. Receiver is going to be a position where anybody that can make plays will see the field even without flawless technique, so I don’t see the coaches keeping Smith on the bench if he can show that ability. The likelihood for consistent PT would increase even more if Harley leaves.
