Washington is on a roll right now with weekly commitment news, and today St. John Bosco defensive back, James Smith has added his name to the Class of 2020 roster.
“I know it’s the best place for me”, Smith told Realdawg.com following the unofficial, two-day trip he took to Seattle with his mother, “It’s just the coaches and I love how Coach Pete is teaching players to become great men and how graduation is expected. Obviously the football is great and Coach Lake gives you a chance to get to the next level.”
Smith actually was set to commit yesterday, but Petersen had a flight issue and wasn’t going to be able to get talk to Smith – but Will Harris was very excited to know he was going to get Smith in the Dawghouse to coach up as a Husky.
Washington came in a literally pulled the rug right out from under the feet of Oregon, where most pundits believed Smith was headed — but when he received his offer from the Huskies, it completely changed everything.
Smith told us back when he was offered:
“I mean, Oregon was high up there for me”, Smith had said, “But after Washington offered…not so much…I’ve grown up watching Washington and they’re the best team in the Pac-12. Coach Lake really knows what he’s doing and I had a chance to work with him and Coach Harris and Coach Petersen at Whittier, and I totally trust them.”
And as for narrowing it down to Oregon and Washington, Smith’s mother was more in favor of the Huskies, as was Smith, himself.
Smith won’t be an early enrollee, but will sign in December.
“I want to try to sit down and look at the schedule but I think I’ll be back up for that USC game”, he said, noting that he will take his official visit that weekend.
And as for getting this decision off his shoulders? Smith said “I feel myself smiling a lot more now”, he laughed.
On the field, Smith is that taller and lengthier corner who can go up against taller receivers. He sticks like glue in press coverage but he also has strong closing speed in zone.
Smith has an NFL body; he’s long and athletic. He can play bump and run or man-up and play off the ball. He’s very physical. He’ll be a lock-down corner.
He played behind Chris Steele and Trent McDuffie last season at Bosco, so this year he’s taking everything he learned from those two and owning his own spot on the field.
