Lithonia end loving life in the SEC

Jordan Smith, once committed to South Carolina, Smith changed to Florida after Steve Spurrier retired. He already has enrolled and loves life in the Swamp.

Three things to know about Smith:

1. Gators over Volunteers: After Smith back off his committment to South Carolina, it came down to Florida and Tennessee, and in early January, Smith picked the Gators. A strong relationship with Gators defensive line coach Chris Rumph was among the deciding factors. Smith has been in constant communication with Lithonia coach Marcus Jelks. "He loves it," Jelks said.

2. Stage is never too big: A high-energy, outgoing personality, Smith made his varsity debut at Lithonia as a sophomore in a region play-in game against Grady. The big stage didn't seem to bother him. "He had 10 tackles, four for loss," Jelks remembered. It was only the beginning.

3. Numbers of note: Smith had a team-high 104 tackles this season at Lithonia, despite opponents almost always running away from him, Jelks said. Smith had seven sacks, 26 tackles for loss, forced six fumbles and recovered two. Oh, he also caught four touchdowns as a tight end.

About the Author

David Purdum

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