Smith Eyes ND Return

“It’s a lot of pressure honestly,” said the 2017 Tennessee offensive lineman, who ESPN has as the #1 player in the country, said after the first day of The Opening here at Nike World Headquarters.

“I felt it my first rep today. I got beat off the edge. But once I finally got a chance to settle down, you realize, ‘Just go out and play and prove why you’re number one.’ I’m just hoping I can do that.”

Another challenge with being a top-ranked target is sorting through scores of scholarship offers to find the best one. Smith made a trip to South Bend during the spring to get a look at Notre Dame and said he’s kept in touch with Irish offensive line coach Harry Hiestand ever since.

“Absolutely,” Smith said. “I talked to Coach Hiestand not too long ago. He’s always like, ‘Technique is going to win over everything and work hard.’ He can make me a real champion down there.”

Smith has a relatively easy way of seeing whether Hiestand can back up his boasts.

“Looking at the NFL draft prospects that he produced,” Smith said confidently.

So does Hiestand check that box?

“Absolutely,” said Smith.

The Jackson, Tenn., native could be making his way back up to South Bend this summer.

“Probably pretty soon actually if I can,” Smith said of a possible return visit. “I’m going to talk to my dad a little bit about cost and distance. It’s not easy making that trip from Tennessee, but I’m trying to get back down there.”

He’s hoping to see and do much of the same stuff he saw and did on his first visit.

“Probably just the facilities one last time and to hang out with the players again,” he said. “That was real cool.”

Smith plans to visit Tennessee in a couple of weeks and to narrow his list down officially even sooner.

“I’ll have a top six coming out pretty soon in a couple of days,” he said.

Will the Irish be on that list?

“They might be.”