The Cougars kicked off a strong recruiting weekend with the commitment of Belton (TX) safety Garrison Vaughn, but closed things out by picking up the pledge of Spring (TX) defensive end Willie Smith III who committed to Houston on Sunday afternoon.
Smith is a guy that was discovered during the recruitment of fellow Spring (TX) High School athlete Ka'Darian Smith who signed with Houston in the class of 2016. During the recruitment of Ka'Darian Smith, the Houston staff identified Willie Smith as a rising star, really before his recruitment started to take off.
He came to multiple games last season. The staff last year liked him as a recruit but couldn't really decide what position they wanted to recruit him as. The new staff love his athleticism, versatility and pass rushing ability. So much in fact that he's not really being identified as one specific position. According to Smith, A.J. Blum has had conversations about what role he would play defensively and they're just taking him as is with a wait and see approach as to where he exactly he'll end up. They're going to see how his body develops over the next year and will make that decision once he hits campus.
Smith wanted to commit and person and did so on a visit with his mother on Sunday.
He's been heavily recruited for the last year or more even before getting his offer.
Analysis & Breakdown
Picked Houston over offers from Memphis, Tulsa and Texas State. Considered by some to be a 'Tweener' type recruit that can play outside linebacker or defensive end, which is a large reason for Houston's wait and see approach.
He has the athletic ability and defensive know-how to where he could play either position well, what it will come down to is how his body develops over the next 12 months. With that said, he's lined up all over the defense for Spring High School, playing nose tackle, defensive end and linebacker and even took snaps as a ball carrier in the backfield and had 10 carries for 57 yards and three touchdowns last season.
As a defensive lineman he's fast and explosive off the line with the speed to be a sideline to sideline player off the line. Using his speed and athleticism on the defensive line, he's a bit more physical as a linebacker. He's absolutely dangerous on the defensive line at the high school level and is difficult to block. Very explosive at the snap, if he plans to stay on the defensive line he'll need to add size and bulk up with a bit more added strength. If he plays linebacker he could trim down a bit, hone some of his skills and actually pick up some additional speed in pursuit. He has good pass rush skills at either position, but is currently undersized should he stay on the defensive line.
He'll be one worth keeping an eye on as his senior year of high school unfolds, we may have a closer idea to where he projects best once he graduates. If he hit campus today, I would say he would project better as an outside linebacker, but if he can add size without losing any of that explosiveness man he could be really dangerous on the defensive line. We'll have to take the wait and see approach as well to see exactly how he matures and develops physically over the next 12 months.
All in all a very solid get by Houston on a player that I think could have a tremendous senior season. A great weekend for the Houston staff to close out the week.
Smith is a guy that was discovered during the recruitment of fellow Spring (TX) High School athlete Ka'Darian Smith who signed with Houston in the class of 2016. During the recruitment of Ka'Darian Smith, the Houston staff identified Willie Smith as a rising star, really before his recruitment started to take off.
He came to multiple games last season. The staff last year liked him as a recruit but couldn't really decide what position they wanted to recruit him as. The new staff love his athleticism, versatility and pass rushing ability. So much in fact that he's not really being identified as one specific position. According to Smith, A.J. Blum has had conversations about what role he would play defensively and they're just taking him as is with a wait and see approach as to where he exactly he'll end up. They're going to see how his body develops over the next year and will make that decision once he hits campus.
Smith wanted to commit and person and did so on a visit with his mother on Sunday.
He's been heavily recruited for the last year or more even before getting his offer.
Analysis & Breakdown
Picked Houston over offers from Memphis, Tulsa and Texas State. Considered by some to be a 'Tweener' type recruit that can play outside linebacker or defensive end, which is a large reason for Houston's wait and see approach.
He has the athletic ability and defensive know-how to where he could play either position well, what it will come down to is how his body develops over the next 12 months. With that said, he's lined up all over the defense for Spring High School, playing nose tackle, defensive end and linebacker and even took snaps as a ball carrier in the backfield and had 10 carries for 57 yards and three touchdowns last season.
As a defensive lineman he's fast and explosive off the line with the speed to be a sideline to sideline player off the line. Using his speed and athleticism on the defensive line, he's a bit more physical as a linebacker. He's absolutely dangerous on the defensive line at the high school level and is difficult to block. Very explosive at the snap, if he plans to stay on the defensive line he'll need to add size and bulk up with a bit more added strength. If he plays linebacker he could trim down a bit, hone some of his skills and actually pick up some additional speed in pursuit. He has good pass rush skills at either position, but is currently undersized should he stay on the defensive line.
He'll be one worth keeping an eye on as his senior year of high school unfolds, we may have a closer idea to where he projects best once he graduates. If he hit campus today, I would say he would project better as an outside linebacker, but if he can add size without losing any of that explosiveness man he could be really dangerous on the defensive line. We'll have to take the wait and see approach as well to see exactly how he matures and develops physically over the next 12 months.
All in all a very solid get by Houston on a player that I think could have a tremendous senior season. A great weekend for the Houston staff to close out the week.
