What does Brashard Smith’s commitment mean for Miami’s pursuit of Leonard Taylor?
Before the “Palmetto Five” was one of the most sought-after collection of recruits in the entire country, the Miami Hurricanes secured a commitment from Savion Collins.
Now a four-star defensive tackle for Palmetto, Collins was a mostly unknown defensive lineman at Miami Southwest when he orally committed to the Hurricanes in 2018. Although the Florida Gators have constantly pursued him, Collins has stuck with his pledge for nearly two years so far.
Last year, Collins transferred to Palmetto and the Panthers’ quintet of All-Americans and blue-chip prospects was formed.
On Sunday, Brashard Smith became the second member of the “Palmetto Five” to make a college choice. Less than three months after he decommitted from Florida, the three-star athlete picked Miami, too.
“They all love each other and they all care about each other, and they all play really well together,” Panthers coach Mike Manasco said. “I think anytime you get one, you’ve got a better shot and now they’ve got two.”
Next Friday, the Hurricanes will have a chance to add a third. Five-star defensive tackle Leonard Taylor is slated to make his college choice, picking between Miami and the Gators. The Hurricanes are also finalists for five-star cornerback Jason Marshall and four-star safety Corey Collier.
Smith is particularly close with Marshall and Collier. While Taylor and Collins both transferred to Palmetto, the other three have been with the Panthers all along and even played with each other growing up.
“Once you start getting kids that like to be around each other, like to play with each other,” Manasco said, “then good things happen.”
Brashard Smith and spread offense
Miami’s success at Palmetto so far in the 2021 recruiting cycle is a result of the shift around the program this year, not just with the Hurricanes’ success on the recruiting trail, but also with some of the coaching changes coach Manny Diaz made in the winter.
Until this year, Smith simply wouldn’t have fit in Miami’s offense. The 5-9, 190-pound senior would have been nothing more than an undersized athlete with question marks regarding his position. In offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee’s spread offense, Smith can play the position he knows best: offensive weapon.
Last season, Smith caught 36 passes for 628 yards and 13 touchdowns, leading the team in both receiving yards and touchdowns while playing almost exclusively as a wide receiver. In the past, he has also played running back, and he added 17 yards on four carries, plus a kick-return touchdown, as a junior in 2019.
Although he sits outside the top 300 in the 247SPorts.com composite rankings for the Class of 2021, Smith was invited play in the 2021 Under Armour All-America Game. The Hurricanes don’t have a player like him on their roster.
“He would be considered by most pro-style offenses as an undersized athlete, whereas spread and uptempo offenses feature people like Brashard,” Manasco said. “He’s the definition of an offensive weapon.”
Lashlee’s history with the Auburn Tigers, Manasco said, is the greatest bit of evidence the assistant coach can offer about how well he’ll be able to use the All-American.
After he decommitted from Florida in May, Smith put out a new top five, featuring the Gators, Tennessee Volunteers, Oregon Ducks, Miami and Auburn. The common thread — particularly for the latter four — is the commitment to a spread attack, loaded with speedy playmakers regardless of size.
Lashlee hasn’t gotten to showcase his new offense yet in Coral Gables, but recruits trust in his track record. It’s keeping home prospects who otherwise might have left South Florida.
“I just think the offense that Miami’s running and the offensive coaches that they’ve brought in have played a big part on Brashard,” Manasco said. “There’s a reason that Auburn and Gus Malzahn were directly related to what Rhett Lashlee’s going to do, and why they made Brashard a priority, too. ... They’re all similar in the fact that they want to get the ball to their playmakers and get them out in space.”
