This talented quarterback prospect from the Tar Heel State traveled to Tiger Town multiple times this season.

After camping at Clemson in the past, Reagan High School (Pfafftown, N.C.) class of 2026 signal-caller Jacob Smith visited Death Valley this fall for the Florida Atlantic, Wake Forest and North Carolina games.

The Clemson Insider caught up with the 6-foot-3, 200-pound sophomore following his latest trip to Clemson for the UNC game on Nov. 18.

“Gameday at Clemson is always awesome,” Smith said. “My highlight of the (UNC game) visit had to be being on the field in pregame warmups and getting to feel the gameday vibe more so than just a fan. The energy of the crowd is unreal. They played really well against UNC and they got a big win against a top-25 opponent.”

Smith – a two-sport standout who holds several FBS football offers and is committed to NC State for baseball – made the trip to Clemson for the UNC game with his father, sister and one of his high school baseball coaches.

“My dad has been on every visit to Death Valley with me and he is impressed every time we come back,” Smith said. “For my sister and my baseball coach, it was their first time coming with me and they really enjoyed the hospitality and the gameday experience.”

Reagan High (Pfafftown, N.C.) 2026 QB Jacob Smith during pregame at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium. Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider

Smith’s latest visit gave him the chance to spend more time with Clemson offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Garrett Riley, as well as a couple of former Tiger QBs who are now on Dabo Swinney’s staff in offensive player development coaches Tajh Boyd and Cole Stoudt.

“They’re always so welcoming every time that I come back and have made me feel like I belong,” Smith said. “I know they are extremely busy on gamedays but always seem to take the time to hang out with me and my family before warmups and catch up on how everything is going for me and how the season went and things of that nature.”

Smith’s recruitment is still in the early stages, but he feels the Tigers have “high interest” in him at this point in the process.

“Obviously they are slower in the offer side of things,” he said, “but I really appreciate that because they are getting to know me and my family well to make sure it’s the right fit.”

Smith has football offers from North Carolina, Duke, NC State, East Carolina and Charlotte, while he has gotten interest from numerous power conference programs that he believes will eventually offer.

What appeals the most to Smith when he thinks about a potential Clemson offer down the road, and the opportunity that would give him to suit up for Swinney and the Tigers?

“I would say the facilities and the coaching staff stand out the most,” he said. “Just what Coach Swinney has done with that program and the culture around it solidifies where Clemson is in my recruiting. Also the P.A.W. Journey has stood out to me because it shows what they do with their players and how they prepare them for life after football. It’s not just a four-year decision, it’s a 40-year decision.”

Smith threw for 2,051 yards and 19 touchdowns as a sophomore this year and plans to play both football and baseball at the college level.

The infielder/righthanded pitcher gave his verbal baseball commitment to NC State back in February 2022, well before he emerged as a football recruit and started to reel in offers for that sport.

“I was fortunate enough to have a lot of early baseball success, which led to a lot of baseball interests and offers, even before I ever considered playing football,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of personal and team success in football which has led to a lot of interest and has changed things considerably. My football recruitment is wide open and I think it is going to significantly impact where I end up come signing day.”

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