Tennessee is looking to add several wide receivers to their 2020 recruiting class, and they specifically want to add pass catchers with a lot of speed. On Monday, they were listed as one of the top contenders for a prospect that checks off both of those boxes.
Arian Smith is a four-star wide receiver who plays for Lakeland High School in Lakeland, Florida. He tweeted out a video revealing his list of top eight schools, and the Vols were included along with Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma, LSU, Florida State, and Auburn.
I would like to thank every school that recruited me but I would also like to turn all my interest and attention to these TOP 8 SCHOOLS ?‼️@GatorsFB @OU_Football @LSUfootball @FSUFootball @Vol_Football @AuburnFootball @FootballUGA @AlabamaFTBL @GeauxEdits‼️ @LHSDreadnaughts pic.twitter.com/p1NJ9uWd5N
— Arian Smith (@ArianSmith2) July 15, 2019
According to 247Sports, the 6-foot-1, 170-pound athlete is the No. 75 overall prospect, No. 14 wide receiver, and No. 13 player in the state of Florida. The composite rankings list him as the No. 184 overall player in the 2020 class.
Smith made his first trip to Knoxville last month when he made an unofficial trip to UT’s campus on June 13th. Smith came with some of his high school teammates and stayed for one of Tennessee’s camps. He’s also visited Florida State and Alabama in 2019. Tennessee co-defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach Chris Rumph also paid Smih a visit back in late April.
The standout receiver told Chris Nee of 247Sports that the reason he selected the Vols as one of his top teams is because of UT’s track team and because he’s a believer in what Tennessee is doing in football.
“Tennessee has a shot because they have a great track history and I believe their football program is on the rise,” Smith stated. “Great place.”
Smith is as good a track athlete as he is a football player. He’s been timed running the 100 meters in 10.39 seconds and the 200 meters in 21.14 seconds.
On the football field, Smith does a little bit of everything. He plays wildcat quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and a returner on special teams. He even plays some defense, serving as a defensive back. Smith’s speed is truly elite, and he’s almost impossible to catch once he hits the open field. When he hits the acceleration, he’s gone. He has a longer stride and has superb vision. On defense, he shows good closing speed and physicality. He’s shifty, smart, and quick. From a technical standpoint, Smith still has a bit to learn and doesn’t really have a positional home right now. If he’s going to play receiver in college, he’ll need some coaching. But there’s so much raw talent and athleticism here that he should still see the field early wherever he goes.
Last year, Smith played for Mulberry. As a junior, he totaled 45 tackles, two interceptions, and two blocked punts on defense and also ran for 705 yards and eight touchdowns on offense. He was named the Small School Defensive Player of the Year by The Ledger.
Tennessee currently has one projected wide receiver committed to them in their 2020 recruiting class. Three-star athlete Jimmy Calloway out of Morrow, Georgia is UT’s lone projected WR prospect committed to them currently.
