After picking up a scholarship offer from Tennessee a little more than a month ago,
Isaac Smith took his first visit to check out the Vols during their junior day this past weekend. The Top247 defensive back from Mississippi now plans to consider using one of his official visits to return to Tennessee. From the atmosphere at the basketball game against Arkansas to his interactions with Tennessee’s coaches, Smith saw plenty of positives from his time in Knoxville.
The 6-foot, 200-pound Smith, who is rated a four-star prospect and ranked the No. 223 overall player, No. 17 safety and No. 3 prospect in Mississippi, received an offer from the Vols in late January coming off his junior season at Itawamba Agricultural High School in Fulton, Miss.
He visited Mississippi State in January and has scholarship offers from Georgia, Notre Dame, Michigan, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Arkansas and Michigan State, among others, but this past weekend was his first chance to see Tennessee up close.
“It’s my first time visiting Tennessee or even coming to Knoxville, period,” Smith said. “I really enjoyed it. I think I’m going to use one of my officials for here.”
Smith, a two-play standout who also plays running back and wide receiver, said he “hit it off good” with Tennessee head coach
Josh Heupel, secondary coach
Willie Martinez, running backs coach
Jerry Mack and defensive graduate assistant
Tyson Kee.
One of the highlights, though, was attending Tennessee’s basketball game against Arkansas.
“The fan base at the basketball game was live,” Smith said. “It was really good. I love how the coaches interact with us and how everything’s looking. It just felt good.”
Smith, whose father David played linebacker at Ole Miss, said his next visit could be LSU, but also plans on taking trips to Georgia, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Duke.
He plans on committing before his senior season and enrolling early at the program he chooses.
“I’ve heard a lot about Tennessee, how it is,” Smith said, “and it really stood up to what it’s said to be.”