5-star Smith to Clemson
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Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy five-star linebacker Rahshaun Smith has gone by the nickname "Shaq" since elementary school when he towered above his peers.
Clemson scored a gargantuan commitment Thursday evening when Smith (6-2, 226) publicly pledged to the Tigers during a ceremony in Baltimore, Md., near his hometown.
He pulled a Clemson hat from under the table which held four caps of other suitors.
Smith, ranked No. 11 nationally overall regardless of position by Rivals.com, picked Clemson over Oklahoma, Tennessee, LSU, Florida State and Alabama among many others.
The Tigers are believed to have moved ahead for good when Smith and his mother visited campus for an October victory against Syracuse. He returned for Clemson's elite junior day Jan. 31 and took just one more recruiting visit - to Miami a month ago - before electing to wrap up the process Thursday, his birthday.
He did so during spring break at IMG Academy so as to hold the announcement celebration back home with family and friends; he spent his junior season at Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances upon transferring from Towson (Md.) Calvert Hall, where he first hit radars as a freshman.
Smith makes for Clemson's second IMG Academy commitment this class, joining four-star receiverT.J. Chase, the nation's No. 14 wide receiver prospect.
He also could stand as the Tigers' highest-ranked acquisition since 2008 when they landed in-state defensive lineman Da'Quan Bowers, ranked No. 2 nationally.
Defensive coordinator Brent Venables made Smith a top-shelf priority after Smith starred at linebacker during a one-day cameo at the Dabo Swinney Football Camp last June.
Smith subsequently developed a favorable connection with Tigers middle linebacker Stephone Anthony, a projected early round NFL Draft pick whom Clemson is seeking to replace.
As a junior, Smith registered 111 tackles and two interceptions in his first season as a linebacker.
Tigerillustrated.com will have additional coverage of Smith's pledge to the Tigers later this evening.
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