On his first trip to Miami’s campus last Sunday, Vanguard 3-star OL Antonio Smith wanted to see if he felt comfortable enough in Coral Gables to spend the next four years there. And it didn’t take long for him to decide Miami was the place for him, as Smith committed to the Miami staff on the spot after receiving an offer, becoming UM’s 12th pledge in Category20.
“First off, it’s like a dream come true,” Smith said. “Miami is a school that I grew up loving. It was amazing to commit, everyone showing love and the coaches’ reactions - they were happy. They wanted me to be a part of the team, so they loved me down there.”
The Canes landed Smith’s commitment at a big junior day event where many major prospects showed up on campus. The recruits toured campus and listened to current players talk about their life in college, walked around the indoor practice facility, and tried on uniforms. The visit eased any and all of Smith’s concerns and made him feel comfortable enough to give an early commitment to the staff.
“What made me feel comfortable with committing was just the atmosphere, the energy, the love you get when you are there, you feel like it’s home. The coaching staff, they make you feel like family,” Smith said. “That’s a school I’ve been looking to go to as a kid, playing for Miami and becoming one of the best like Ray Lewis, Sean Taylor, the greats. So, I feel like I can become one of those type of players and that’s why I committed. Everything they got going on I want to be a part of, ‘The New Miami’.”
While it’s obvious the great trip to campus played a big role in Smith’s decision, new OL coach Butch Barry clearly deserves some credit as well for landing the 6’3” 270 pound lineman. Smith was Barry’s first commitment since taking the job at Miami and the pair are already very closely aligned in their approach to the game.
“I love what coach Barry is doing with the offensive line. Everything coach Barry does I love,” Smith said. “He’s not going to sugarcoat anything and I like that about him. He’s a good coach to hang around. I love his motto – ‘Attack the man in front of you’. That’s what I love doing, so I feel like that’s the right coach. He’s going to make sure you do everything correctly, he’s going to make sure that you do it right and not settle for half-done things, and I like that about him. I don’t like doing things half-done, I like to get it right and continue to get it right.”
Right now, UM is projecting Smith to play center on the O-Line, however, Smith doesn’t have much experience at the position, as he’s primarily been a right tackle for Vanguard. He’ll be focusing on center for his upcoming senior season and plans to spend his off-season getting more comfortable snapping the ball.
“I’ve had reps at center before, but I will focus on center completely this season,” Smith said. “My snaps have gotten better, but that’s definitely what I’m going to practice more on.”
With his commitment to the Canes, Smith says he will still take other visits, but doesn’t foresee himself leaving the class and seems like one of Miami’s more solid commits.
“I’m not decommitting or anything, but I’m still going to go to other colleges and visit,” Smith said. “I’m 1000% committed to Miami for sure, though.”
While Smith hasn’t been able to meet any of his Category20 classmates so far, he doesn’t anticipate it taking too long to build a bond with them.
“As soon as we meet, those are my brothers and I’m willing to bust my behind for them,” Smith said.
And his message for Canes fans out there?
“I’m all about the U, ‘The New Miami’. I’m going to bust my behind for the fans, my future teammates, the whole coaching staff, the university. I want to bring that sixth ring home.”
“First off, it’s like a dream come true,” Smith said. “Miami is a school that I grew up loving. It was amazing to commit, everyone showing love and the coaches’ reactions - they were happy. They wanted me to be a part of the team, so they loved me down there.”
The Canes landed Smith’s commitment at a big junior day event where many major prospects showed up on campus. The recruits toured campus and listened to current players talk about their life in college, walked around the indoor practice facility, and tried on uniforms. The visit eased any and all of Smith’s concerns and made him feel comfortable enough to give an early commitment to the staff.
“What made me feel comfortable with committing was just the atmosphere, the energy, the love you get when you are there, you feel like it’s home. The coaching staff, they make you feel like family,” Smith said. “That’s a school I’ve been looking to go to as a kid, playing for Miami and becoming one of the best like Ray Lewis, Sean Taylor, the greats. So, I feel like I can become one of those type of players and that’s why I committed. Everything they got going on I want to be a part of, ‘The New Miami’.”
While it’s obvious the great trip to campus played a big role in Smith’s decision, new OL coach Butch Barry clearly deserves some credit as well for landing the 6’3” 270 pound lineman. Smith was Barry’s first commitment since taking the job at Miami and the pair are already very closely aligned in their approach to the game.
“I love what coach Barry is doing with the offensive line. Everything coach Barry does I love,” Smith said. “He’s not going to sugarcoat anything and I like that about him. He’s a good coach to hang around. I love his motto – ‘Attack the man in front of you’. That’s what I love doing, so I feel like that’s the right coach. He’s going to make sure you do everything correctly, he’s going to make sure that you do it right and not settle for half-done things, and I like that about him. I don’t like doing things half-done, I like to get it right and continue to get it right.”
Right now, UM is projecting Smith to play center on the O-Line, however, Smith doesn’t have much experience at the position, as he’s primarily been a right tackle for Vanguard. He’ll be focusing on center for his upcoming senior season and plans to spend his off-season getting more comfortable snapping the ball.
“I’ve had reps at center before, but I will focus on center completely this season,” Smith said. “My snaps have gotten better, but that’s definitely what I’m going to practice more on.”
With his commitment to the Canes, Smith says he will still take other visits, but doesn’t foresee himself leaving the class and seems like one of Miami’s more solid commits.
“I’m not decommitting or anything, but I’m still going to go to other colleges and visit,” Smith said. “I’m 1000% committed to Miami for sure, though.”
While Smith hasn’t been able to meet any of his Category20 classmates so far, he doesn’t anticipate it taking too long to build a bond with them.
“As soon as we meet, those are my brothers and I’m willing to bust my behind for them,” Smith said.
And his message for Canes fans out there?
“I’m all about the U, ‘The New Miami’. I’m going to bust my behind for the fans, my future teammates, the whole coaching staff, the university. I want to bring that sixth ring home.”
