Hello: Vincent Smith
This blog was slightly occupied last Friday when Pahokee, FL, teammates Brandin Hawthorne and Vincent Smith committed to Michigan, but better late than never. Everything the internet can offer on Michigan’s newest electron-sized recruit follows, now with organization and stuff.
GURU RATINGS
Scout | Rivals | ESPN |
---|---|---|
3*, #102 RB | 3*, #60 RB | 77, #60 RB |
In a word: “meh,” but we are talking about a 5’7” player here who is a poor fit for a lot of offenses and doesn’t have much pro upside. ESPN scouting report($) clip:
Shows a second gear when he gets outside on the perimeter and can separate in the second level with good top-end speed. However, he does appear quicker than fast and is not the burner you hope for on film with his smaller size. Runs hard and is a tough, determined back, but yards after contact should diminish at the next level versus bigger more explosive defenders.
They say he could be a “productive change of pace back” in the spread, which is kind of damning him with faint praise.
His teammates and coach are a bit more positive, as you might imagine:
His production -- more than 1,000 yards rushing last season -- helped lead the Blue Devils to the 2B state championship and USA Today's No. 6 national ranking.
And then there's his build, which Thompson simply called ``that spread-offense body.'' …
''He can do a lot,'' Pahokee quarterback-to-be Nu'Keese Richardson said, ``as far as catching it out [of] the backfield, making guys miss and stuff like that.''
Added coach Blaze Thompson: ``When he goes to camps, he'll go from wide receiver to running back, wide receiver to running back.
"He runs great routes, and he's powerful.''
A slot move may be a possibility down the road.
OFFERS
Smith had two other major offers from Tennessee and Wisconsin. Minnesota, Iowa State, and Southern Miss also offered. In-state programs were not interested.
Okay, kind of meh too but it’s notable that Michigan’s offer went out fast:
''[When I got] my first offer from Michigan,'' Smith said, ``I knew then I was going to be good.''
He got it in early March, before Michigan offered a bunch of other high-profile guys. They IDed him early and had him high on their list.
STATS
Lot of yards, as per usual:
Smith, a running back, led Pahokee in rushing the past two seasons and rushed for 1,196 yards last year.
Sophomore numbers were impressive:
Just behind him [FL recruit Janoris Jenkins] is the "starting" tailback Vincent Smith. Smith, a sophomore who goes 5-9 and 174 pounds, has 85 carries for 925 yards (10.3 per carry) and 15 TDs.
Keep in mind that Pahokee plays at a small-school level in Florida and dominates the competition—they’re gearing up for a run at a fourth straight state championship—and the silly YPC above should be taken with a grain of salt.
FAKE 40 TIME
Fake, fake, fake:
Indeed he is. Smith might come up short, height-wise (he lists himself at 5-9, although some have him at 5-7), but not in many other places.
His 40-yard dash time -- the high 4.3-range and dropping, he says -- is stellar.
Fake!
VIDEO
This compilation of runs from last year’s state championship game—which they won 53-14— is uncommonly useful because it’s not a highlight reel; in it Smith looks A) tiny, B) shifty, and C) feisty.
And this has featured on the blog before, but here’s Smith narrated by Pat Summerall:
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:49 PM ^
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:15 PM ^
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:18 PM ^
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:19 PM ^
A running back named "Doobie".
In the words of Rog......."What Doobie you be?"
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:31 PM ^
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:20 PM ^
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:21 PM ^
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:02 PM ^
I watched a replay of the Class B (whatever) Final on Foxsports. It's so damn hard to judge these kids. they all looked so small to me.
I was impressed with Martavious Odoms, Nu'Keese Richardson, and Vincent Smith. I didn't notice Hawthorne at all (except when he was kicking off).
The announcers were saying that they were the best team in the state of Florida, in ANY classification. And that they were ranked like number 6 in the country. I was shocked when they said that.
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:04 PM ^
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:06 PM ^
He's just looking for every 3-star prospect UF isn't recruiting and trying to sign them. Bum. He doesn't know what conference he's in anymore.
I hate this Vincent Smith kid. No offers from UF or LSU. What a joke.
amiright wolverine1987, you pretentious fuckup?
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:25 PM ^
Overreacting a bit, are we Huss?
Rodriguez clearly feels that he needs more rb/slot types because we have Terrence Robinson, Odoms, McGuffie, and Shaw as of now. I don't know how many he used to have on his roster at WVU, but I think he knows what he's doing
Offers from Tennessee and Wisky? Not bad for our LOWEST RATED RECRUIT. He and Hawthorne are both rated 5.5 by Rivals, the two lowest of any commit so far. If guys like Smith with other big time offers are our lowest rated players in a (nearly) full class, then I think the staff is doing a great job.
September 2nd, 2008 at 7:01 PM ^
September 2nd, 2008 at 7:08 PM ^
September 2nd, 2008 at 7:45 PM ^
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:18 PM ^
Dammit. I post like 3 times and one of them makes an ass out of myself
My apologies Huss
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:21 PM ^
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:45 PM ^
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:50 PM ^
The QB battle and SLOT position battles next year will be unreal. Sheridan, Threet, Beaver and now Forcier. Some say that only the last two count. If that is true whichever FROSH QB can handle the mental side of it will play. Will that be Forcier or Beaver? And what will become of Sheridan and Threet?
What about the slot competition??? So many guys at this position
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:54 AM ^
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:35 AM ^
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:19 AM ^
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