In-state standout talks upcoming spring game visit, where Clemson stands

Gaffney (S.C.) 2018 wide receiver Dennis Smith is slated to attend Clemson’s spring game on Saturday, a little more than a month after the Tigers extended an offer to him during his junior day visit on March 4.

Smith, who recently spoke with The Clemson Insider, said he’s looking forward to more in-depth conversations with receivers coach Jeff Scott and head coach Dabo Swinney.

“Just sitting down, one-on-one time with coach Scott and Swinney,” Smith said. “Talking with them and going over a few things with me and my mom.”

Smith (6-2, 190) has visited Clemson on a number of occasions, including a trio of gameday trips last fall.

Scott has evaluated and recruited him since the beginning of his high school career, and the two have built a good relationship over the years.

“You can see the work he’s put in and the guys he’s produced,” Smith said of what he likes about Scott, “so he’s doing something right.”

Smith pointed to Clemson’s atmosphere and environment as aspects of the school that stick out to him.

“It’s crazy there, and then when you get there, there’s just something about it,” he said. “You get that feeling.”

A report came out last week suggesting Clemson had stopped communicating with Smith. While Smith would like to hear more from the Tigers, he said he has remained in touch with them.

“I mean not a lot as I would like, but I still communicate with them,” he said.

Smith named Duke, South Carolina and Virginia Tech as schools standing out to him in terms of those recruiting him the hardest.

“Duke and Virginia Tech are standing out for me a lot right now. They’re recruiting me really hard and so is South Carolina, too, you can’t forget about them,” he said.

With that said, Smith says he has no leaders in his recruitment right now. He hopes to come to a decision before the beginning of his senior season so he can primarily focus on his final year and preparing himself for the next level.

Ultimately, he is looking at program stability as an important factor in his decision and wants to choose the school he feels most comfortable at.

“Am I going to be happy when my momma drops me off at the end of the day because I’m going to be there, wherever I am, so as long as I feel like it’s a home and I can come back,” he said. “And the coaches and the stability there.”

Smith picked up offers from Virginia Tech and Georgia during recent visits. Joining Clemson, Georgia and Virginia Tech as the schools that have offered him this calendar year are East Carolina, Indiana and Northwestern. South Carolina was first to offer last November before Duke pulled the trigger in December.

As a junior last season, Smith caught 72 passes for 1,180 yards and 11 touchdowns.

As he works toward a decision, Smith sees Clemson as a viable option.

“Being home in the backyard and at the level they’re playing,” he said, “they’ll always be, in the back of my mind, an option no matter what.”