Signing Day Capsule: RB Jahmir Smith
JAHMIR SMITH - RUNNING BACK
ISD: 3-star
Composite: 3-star
Sanford, NC (Lee County HS)
6-foot, 205 pounds
Senior Stats: 1,728 rushing yards, 27 rushing TDs
Recruitment Rundown: It was a quiet recruitment for the three-star prospect. Smith didn’t talk much to the media and didn’t get caught up in the process. The Lee County star had interest in staying home and playing for North Carolina, but after a visit to Notre Dame, Smith ended the process and never wavered in his commitment.
Recruiter: Clark Lea/Autry Denson
Coach Comments: “He’s going to produce. The cool thing that gets overlooked so many times when you’re scouting a guy is seeing what kid does when the lights get bright. What are they going to do against the best competition? Every kid that is a Division-I player can pad stats against teams that aren’t so great.
“The brighter the lights and the bigger the stage, the better Jahmir played.”
ISD expert Jamie Uyeyama: When Markese Stepp and Notre Dame parted ways, it’s easy to forget that he was not the only running back in the 2018 recruiting class for the Irish. Smith was the second and less-heralded commit. Their running styles really aren’t that much different, though.
Smith is not the biggest back, but he runs with authority and is constantly falling forward or running through contact. Downhill is a great way to describe his game, although I was a bit worried that he may have been a bit one-dimensional in that sense. He reinforced with his senior film that he is a tackle-breaker and runs with power, but I would have liked to see more of him as a receiver and what he is capable of in that part of his game.
What I thought he improved on the most as a senior was his lateral agility. I can’t say enough how quick lateral movement is critical to being an effective runner at the college level. When the blocking isn’t perfect, backs need to be able to get something out of nothing. The backs with exceptional lateral agility can turn routine runs into big chunk plays.
Woolhorn - Home of the Official Play Like a Champion Sport Coat, worn each and every Saturday by your Fighting Irish. Get the perfect Irish gift at www.woolhorn.com