The 6-foot-5, 205-pound wide receiver from Southeast Missouri State arrived at Clemson at 2 a.m., just six hours before his scheduled Dec. 16 recruiting visit. He flew from El Paso to Dallas, then from Dallas to Atlanta, before driving the rest of the way.
Once there, Smith watched the Tigers practice for their first-round playoff game against Texas, observing his future quarterback, Cade Klubnik, hustling across the field, touching the wall each time.
Soon after, Smith was sitting in Dabo Swinney’s office, listening to a pitch that didn’t need much selling. Smith had a late growth spurt, going from just under 6-feet as a junior in high school to 6-5, but he took the junior college route when his grades slipped.
Even though he hadn’t left Clemson’s facility yet, Smith was already committed. Reflecting on the visit, he recalled how Swinney showed genuine care for his journey and struggles. Overcome with emotion, Smith said, “I started crying a little bit because not too many people where I’m from get this far.”
He told Swinney, “This is the place I want to be. I’m not going on any other visits. I want to come to Clemson.”
Smith’s commitment to Clemson made waves, given the program’s limited use of the transfer portal. While the Tigers added reserve quarterbacks in recent years, they hadn’t made a big splash in the portal — until now.
Smith, who had 76 receptions for 934 yards and six touchdowns as a junior at SEMO, was aware his decision would attract attention. But he wasn’t worried about the opinions of others.
“People have their opinions, good and bad,” Smith said. “But either way, I’m going to strive to be the best player I can be.”
Smith’s breakthrough came when he joined Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, where he faced high-level competition. Though he wasn’t particularly productive there, he transferred to SEMO, where he became a key part of the offense for a 4,000-yard passer.
After entering the transfer portal on Dec. 9, Smith quickly heard from Clemson’s receivers coach, Tyler Grisham. A few days later, he received a FaceTime call from none other than Swinney, which took him by surprise.
“I didn’t know who it was at first,” Smith recalled. “When I picked up the phone, it was Coach Swinney. We had a great conversation.”
Smith also received interest from other schools like Arkansas and Michigan State, and was set to visit New Mexico State, but the FaceTime call with Swinney solidified his decision.
Raised in a tough neighborhood by a single mother as one of eight children, Smith felt Swinney connected with his personal story. Their bond deepened during their in-person meeting.
Smith, who leaves SEMO with a 3.3 GPA, couldn’t believe he was now at Clemson, watching Klubnik and the Tigers’ receivers in action. He felt he could add leadership and experience to the group, especially with young talents like Antonio Williams, Bryant Wesco Jr., and T.J. Moore already making waves.
With Clemson losing receivers Troy Stellato and Noble Johnson to transfers, Smith sees a chance to compete for playing time in 2025.
His journey to Clemson has been emotional, not just for him, but for his family. His brother and grandfather were both moved by his commitment. Smith is determined to prove himself worthy of this opportunity, telling Clemson fans, “The Clemson Family is going to get the best out of me. It’s only up from here. There’s not going to be a day where you don’t get 110 percent from me.”
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