Smith thrives on competition
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USC’s 2018 class looks like it could be rather small and the 2017 Trojans are loaded with young receivers who are fighting to make an impact.
That hasn’t stopped USC from offering receivers all over the country. According to the Rivals.com database, USC has offered 24 wide receivers in this class, including nine from the Los Angeles area. Those numbers don’t even include the prospects listed as athletes who could end playing wide receiver for the Trojans.
Kobe Smith is one of those local receivers that USC has extended a scholarship offer to. When pressed by TrojanSports.com about those huge numbers, Smith admits they’ve crossed his mind.
“I do,” Smith said when asked if he thinks about USC recruiting so many receivers. “But if I were to go to USC, I would still compete at my highest level and still try to beat out the guy that’s in front of me.”
Smith has every reason to feel confident. He’s been in contact with the Trojans for a very long time. He’s also a highly regarded prospect who earned a scholarship offer from USC in December, well after the staff had re-solidified its standing among the best local recruits. There’s been plenty of recent contact with him and USC as well. He was a guest at USC’s spring game and Tee Martin returned the favor by visiting Gardena Serra HS during this spring evaluation period.
Smith says that he believes he’s a big priority for the Trojans. He’s just not in a hurry to sort his own priorities.
When asked what he’s doing with his college decision, Smith says “I’m just going through the recruiting process.”
There’s no top lists out yet for this star prospect, nor are there plans to make one. As for future visits, Smith says he might go to Arizona and Nebraska this summer. He also says expects to visit UCLA and USC at some point as well. One of his family members spoke to TrojanSports.com after the interview and mentioned Cal and Stanford as potential visit destinations as well.
But obviously Smith is far from making a commitment and he says that a choice will “probably” come on National Signing Day.
“When it’s time for that decision to come up, I’ll probably talk to the coaches, talk to my family and talk to my coaches to help me make my decision,” Smith said.
He says he has plenty of reasons to still consider USC when that time comes.
“It’s just a great school,” Smith said of USC. “People always tell me football is going to end someday. USC always has that background where you could make over six figures.”
