Report: Georgia LB Smith won't sign LOI when he decides on school
In the latest twist in the recruitment of Roquan Smith, the four-star linebacker has reportedly opted against signing a national letter of intent whenever he decides on his destination.
Citing the Montezuma, Ga. (Macon County) product's high school coach, the Atlanta Journal Constitution says Smith has no timetable on selecting a school.
Smith picked UCLA over Georgia in front of cameras on National Signing Day, but didn't turn in his letter of intent after it became public later that day that Bruins defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was becoming the Atlanta Falcons' linebackers coach.
The plan now is for Smith, who is Scout.com's top-rated player at his position, to commit, then officially become a part of that program on his first day of summer classes.
"He's not going to sign a letter of intent," Macon County coach Larry Harold told the AJC. "The reason why is because what he went through last week. This just gives us flexibility in case something else unexpectedly happens again."
Along with the Bruins and Bulldogs, Smith is also considering Michigan and Texas A&M.
Asked how those schools feel about his star player's decision, Harold disclosed that those involved said they've never seen it done before.
"It could set a precedent," Harold said. "They had to do some research, but they said it indeed could be done and that they'e fine with it.
"I guess you'll really be able to tell if a coach or college really wants a kid if they'll agree to do this -- letting a kid come to their campus this summer without signing an LOI.
"Again, we're doing it this way after what happened last week. I don't know where this is all going to go. I guess God put Roquan in this position for a reason. Maybe it was meant to help educate other kids about these types of situations."
Smith joined FOX Sports South's 'The NEW College Football Show: Next Class 2015' a week before National Signing Day and said that the Bruins were the first school to offer him a scholarship when he was in 10th grade.
"It's just about the best fit for me on and off the field to grow as a person," he said.
