AJC > Sports > Football Recruiting > Blog > Archives > 2008 > November > 04 > Entry

State’s No. 1 prospect Branden Smith no longer considering Tennessee

Booker T. Washington cornerback Branden Smith told the AJC on Monday night that he is no longer considering Tennessee.

“They are out,” said Smith, who is rated as the state’s No. 1 prospect by the AJC and Rivals.

Smith took an official visit to Tennessee on Oct. 25, with his host being All-SEC safety Eric Berry, who played at Atlanta’s Creekside High.

Smith has also visited Florida, while he has his three remaining recruiting trips planned for Alabama (replacing Auburn) on Nov. 15, Florida State (replacing Clemson) on Nov. 29, and Georgia on Dec. 12.

Other than Tennessee and Clemson, Smith said he remains “open” to talking with any schools and does not have any favorites.

Note: Branden Smith has agreed to take questions about recruiting or football in this blog. Please post your questions below.

Permalink | Comments (43) | Post your comment | Categories: Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, FSU, Florida, LSU, Tennessee, UGA

Comments

By 1johnboy1

November 3, 2008 7:11 PM | Link to this

Where is Georgia at on your list?

By k

November 3, 2008 7:21 PM | Link to this

Are you interested in playing on both sides of the ball like Champ Bailey?

By UGA4Life

November 3, 2008 7:22 PM | Link to this

Branden, how likely are UGA’s chances of getting you as a student-athlete? We need you! I tell everyone who will listen; “if we can just keep our top players in the state; UGA will be a part of the national championship ride year-over-year. We can’t allow TEN, FL, Bama, or AUB to continue to raid our state.

Please don’t allow any of these schools to steal you away from UGA.

By old timer

November 3, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this

Branden,you can see CMR will play freshmen.You may get started next fall as a starter.

By pj

November 3, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this

Hey Branden,

As you look at the current and future Bulldog secondary, do you feel like you will have the opportunity to play immediately? As with Eric Berry at Tennessee, UGA seems no longer hesitant to use young guys if they’re talented enough.

Our O-Line has Freshmen playing right away, Justin Houston is turning out to be an important D-Lineman and A.J. Green is possibly a freshman all-american. Does this excite you about possibly being the first shutdown corner uga has had in a long time and doing it sooner than later?

By Sweet Home Alabama

November 3, 2008 8:01 PM | Link to this

Student athlete at Ga.you must be off your rocker.how many student athlettes do you thing play for georgia.answer zero.

most of the time there players are trying to get bail money to sleep off their drunk.THERE football team is in the toilet and i am embarrassed they are in our conference,

its bama time boys.

By sunday

November 3, 2008 8:18 PM | Link to this

Mr. Smith, If you are interested in winning a conference championship as soon as possible, want playing time, and you are interested in the best education in the state, then you should consider at least a visit to Georgia Tech on November 20th when the Yellow Jackets face the Hurricanes of Miami U. If not, then good luck wherever you go!

By Oasis

November 3, 2008 8:47 PM | Link to this

Branden, good luck wherever you choose to go. However, if you want to win a lot of preseason national championships, I would strongly recommend Georgia. But if you want to win one on the field, I would recommend you look elsewhere.

By jarvis

November 3, 2008 9:09 PM | Link to this

Best education in the state? I didn’t even know Emory had a team.

By S.E. Dawg

November 3, 2008 9:15 PM | Link to this

Branden, you will play early and often. And as always, there’s nothing like being a Georgia Bulldawg on a Saturday night.

IT’S SATURDAY IN ATHENS!!!!

But if you’re not going to be a Bulldawg, hope the very best for you until you play the Dawgs.

By glw

November 3, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this

Does seeing a guy like Reshard Jones who played at Washington High too play well gives Georgia a slight edge in recruiting?

By CMR

November 3, 2008 11:55 PM | Link to this

Come to UGA & be ranked in our top 10 hotshot recruiting class & then disappear & never amount to squat.

By Brian Hittson

November 4, 2008 12:40 AM | Link to this

If you want to play with the best defensive back coach in the country, you should probably take a hard look at Saban. No bias here! Haha!

By Bamawinsagin

November 4, 2008 1:21 AM | Link to this

Come to Alabama and play for America’s best DB coach, Nick Saban. The #1 team in the country still needs more playmakers like you to lead our defense. 12 National Titles, 21 SEC Titles, Most Bowl Appearances and Bowl wins in the NCAA….Great fans, great education, and greatest tradition in College Football. Playing DB for Nick Saban is a chance for a great degree and ticket to the NFL.

By wyandell25

November 4, 2008 1:35 AM | Link to this

One thing that Bamawinsagin forgot to mention the girls here are smokin :)

By wyandell25

November 4, 2008 1:37 AM | Link to this

One thing that Bamawinsagin forgot to mention the girls here are smokin :)

By Jeff

November 4, 2008 4:24 AM | Link to this

Branden… Don’t listen to these Dawgs… Florida is where it WILL happen for you… Be a part of Florida’s # 1 defense next year… You’ll look good in orange and blue… It’s great to be a Florida Gator…

By Stillman/Fl. Dawg

November 4, 2008 7:46 AM | Link to this

Mr. Smith

UGA needs your services. Although i would make sure possibly in writing of how that dumb Willie will utilize your skills. But we do need you. Stay home and make UGA better on defense. cox is better than stafford so you’ll be fine next year. and with logan gray.

By ramdawg

November 4, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this

HEY BRANDEN WE NEED YOU BAD-DO YOU SEE HOW OUR CORNERS COVER IN MAN TO MAN?YOU GET TO PLAY WITH YOUR FRIEND RESHAD JONES.

By SecIsFootball

November 4, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this

Branden….I am an Alabama fan and let me say congrats on all the offers. I know this….with offers from UGA, UF, UA and many other great schools, you cant go wrong. Good luck with your decision!

By Vince

November 4, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this

I do think UGA needs some great corners to match the other great talent they are recruiting on both sides of the ball. Keep getting a critical mass of really talented players at UGA and we’ll be in the national title hunt every year, along with many of the other great teams in the SEC and around the country.

By wreckmaniac

November 4, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this

At Tech, you can play. At UGA you are just one of 60 players who could start anywhere. 25 of these 60 get to play. Why are the other 35 there ?

By C.T

November 4, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this

What up Branden? From one Atl-ien to another. I’m definetly a UGA fan and would love to see you in the Red and Black. Reshad does his thing, along with Asher, but they clearly need some help on the other side. I’ve seen you play when you all played Mays you’re definetly SEC material. Take your time enjoy this part of recruiting. Hopefully when its all said and done that Black and Red hat with the “G” on it will be the one you Don in January.

By Dwight

November 4, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this

Don’t forget about Georgia Tech ! ! !

By GARY

November 4, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this

If you dont wont to go to class and cant spell your name—come to UGA

By Bama Bob

November 4, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this

Hey dude come to Bama and you can play some and rule it all.

Why start at UGA when you won’t beat Bama but come to Bama and play a little for 3 years then start as a Senior.

Your choice if you don’t come to Bama then you suck!

Florida will get the beatdown in a month like UGA did.

Bama-the Dominant Football power.

By ATLwatcher

November 4, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this

brandon if you go to georgia tech. you will get all the attention, and you will be able to start on special teams and have a great oppotunity to play both sides og the ball with your talent. i feel that other schools will play u on defense and special teams. Tech would play you all around the field. you will be a devin hester at tech

By Bama Bob

November 4, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this

Brandon,come to Bama or die you Thug!

By ATLwatcher

November 4, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this

brandon if you go to georgia tech. you will get all the attention, and you will be able to start on special teams and have a great oppotunity to play both sides of the ball with your talent. i feel that other schools will play u on defense and special teams. Tech would play you all around the field. you will be a devin hester at tech

By Sweet Home Alabama may be retarded

November 4, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this

Sweet Home Alabama

The only thing you emphasized by putting THERE in all caps is your ignorance. I suggest you master the English language before making accusations – it is called a possessive pronoun and you just failed miserably. The only thing you should be embarrassed about is what you see when you look in the mirror.

Branden – good luck with whatever school you choose. Take advantage of the scholarship and prepare yourself for life after football or you’ll be picking up trash on the side of the road like Sweet Home Alabama.

By admsville4zone

November 4, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this

Branden wusup bra dis Jay i jus wanna say go to georgia wit yo boy rashad man we need you we gotta keep da best in the state. You remember dem days a john a white PARK wit my cousin busta. WESTSIDE ZONE 4 ALL DAY EVERYDAY

By Decatur Bred

November 4, 2008 7:49 PM | Link to this

I’ll be glad when this recruiting madness is over for the year. Some of y’all got life phucked up.

By PI$$onaDAWG

November 5, 2008 4:52 AM | Link to this

“UGA 4 Life” never use the term Student Athlete and UGA in the same sentence. You know better than that. Ask JAN KEMP or the Basketball team. HAHAHAH. Daddy can I learn to grow grass and not the kind we SMOKE?

By PI$$onaDAWG

November 5, 2008 5:03 AM | Link to this

Had to pick on the DAWGS, but truly go where you feel comfortable and you can get your education. Would like you to look at Ga. Tech and what CPJ is trying to build on the FLATS. You do what is best for you and I will cuss you and jell aginst you if you play against TECH but it will never be personal. Best of Luck Young Man.

By Gary Harrison

November 5, 2008 5:18 AM | Link to this

Branden: You are from Atlanta so I hope you will play in Georgia. I am a Georgia grad and a TECH fan. I did not go to TECH because I played in high school instead of studying. I wish you the best whereever you play; I only wish you were smart enough to get in TECH.

By DAWG fan supervisor

November 5, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this

Hey DAWG fans, we want Branden, but stick to your fan conduct rule book. All National Championship and Greatest team/program in the country talk is suspended from the final gun of the Florida game until the final gun of the bowl game. Stick by the rules or you’ll lose your woofing privileges.

By DAWG fan supervisor

November 5, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this

Hey DAWG fans, we want Branden, but stick to your fan conduct rule book. All National Championship and Greatest team/program in the country talk is suspended from the final gun of the Florida game until the final gun of the bowl game. Stick by the rules or you’ll lose your woofing privileges.

By NFL Commissioner

November 5, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this

Branden, UGA puts a lot of guys in the NFL. You would probably get a lot of playing time as a freshman, therefore you would be a high pick when you decide to go to the NFL. Plus you are an hour from home.

By Loving it

November 6, 2008 6:51 AM | Link to this

Routinely UGA hand picks some of the best players nationwide. You can be another one. UGA like you at DB, possibly field corner. With UGAs lack of a shut down corner, do you feel like it is a great opportunity for you to join this group? The timing could not be better. Our DBs have taken some heat because of various reasone, but one reason stands out and it is the lack of creating turnovers or getting some int’s. I feel like UGA presents a great opportunity for you. Yes we signed some Db’s last year and the year before that, but as you can tell we do sub out alot and routinely play with 5 DB’s. You belong here, in this group, trying to help UGA win the SEC. GO Dawgs!

By SPX

November 6, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this

hey branden remembered when you played st. Pius and had 30 yards worth of personal foul penalties and dropped a wide open pass that would have easily gone for a touchdown and talked a ton of smack and still got beat

By Branden Smith

November 6, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

this is Branden Smith and uga is one of my top school on my list and i cant wait to say wat school im going to go to on espn on Jan.5th but right now i dont no wat school im going to go to yet.

By bamaclass08

November 6, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this

dude, don’t listen to anything bama bob sais…i promise most bama fans have class, he is an exception and probly a poser.

By bamaclass08

November 6, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this

dude, don’t listen to anything bama bob sais…i promise most bama fans have class, he is an exception and probly a poser.

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