Bulldogs pick up one of the fastest receivers in the 2020 recruiting class, Arian Smith signs with Georgia

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Bulldogs pick up one of the fastest receivers in the 2020 recruiting class, Arian Smith signs with Georgia

UGA head coach Kirby Smart visiting Arian Smith. Photo: Arian Smith, Twitter.
UGA head coach Kirby Smart visiting Arian Smith. Photo: Arian Smith, Twitter.

The Bulldogs have received a commitment from one of the fastest prospects in the 2020 recruiting class, Arian Smith. Just shortly after 1:00 p.m. in the afternoon on Wednesday, Smith chose to commit to and sign with Georgia out of a top-8 that also included Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

Smith is a 6-foot-2 and 180 lbs athlete out of Lakeland, FL where he competes in both high school football and track and field. Over the spring, he ran a 10.39-second 100-meter and a 21.01-second 200-meter for the Mulberry High School track and field team, and last year, he set a 25-foot and 3.25-inch mark in the long jump. Smith isn’t just fast on the track either. Football pads don’t slow him down as the Panther’s used him all over the field where he carried the ball 73 times for 830 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior.

For his senior season, Smith transferred from Mulberry High School to Lakeland where he has concentrated more at the wide receiver position. Smith’s speed was on display on offense where he hauled in 19 receptions for 382 yards and 6 touchdowns averaging over 20 yards per catch in 12 games in 2019, and he also rushed the ball 3 times for 87 rushing yards and an additional two scores. On special teams, Smith returned five kickoffs for 215 yards and another two touchdowns, averaging 43 yards per return.

 

 

 

 

While he may be raw as a receiver, Smith has the potential to take the ball to the house every time he touches it. He reminds of me a lot of Mecole Hardman, Jr. in that respect. Hardman lined up mostly at QB or took direct snaps from center during his time at high school at Elbert County and had to learn to play receiver when he got to Georgia after switching from defense and cornerback. One of the Bulldogs all-time greats at receiver, Terrence Edwards, stated Smith reminded him of Champ Bailey coming out of high school.

As they say, you cannot teach speed. The recruiting services are also high on Smith. 247Sports ranks him as a 4-star prospect and the No. 6 wide receiver in the 2020 class, the No. 5 player from the state of Florida, and nationally, the 28th recruit overall. ESPN and Rivals also have him rated as a 4-star WR.

With his commitment, Smith gives the Bulldogs their third wide receiver and 17th commitment and 15th signee in the 2020 recruiting class joining UGA wide receiver signees St. Thomas Aquinas’ Marcus Rosemy and ELCA’s Justin Robinson.

 

 

 

 

Make sure to check out Arian Smith’s highlights by clicking on the videos below.

2018 Junior Season Highlights

2019 Senior Season highlights

Arian #12

Arian #12

 

 

 

 

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The University of Georgia 1991-1994. Lanier Tech 2009-2012. Writer and graphic artist covering UGA athletics, college football, and recruiting. Peach cobbler fears me!