Smith getting lots of love

ATLANTA – Washington’s Branden Smith has been talked about by high school coaches for a while.

Branden Smith Profile

They wonder why he’s not getting as much attention from college coaches as they would have thought he would. Wonder no more guys – the coaches have found Smith, and they like him.

“Georgia, Auburn, Florida State and Clemson have all offered,” Smith said. “I think Alabama is going to offer some time soon, too. I’m still waiting on some other schools like Oklahoma, Southern Cal and LSU to offer.”

Washington High has been the source of tons of talent of late. Iowa State, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Indiana and Georgia have all signed players from the Atlanta school – two of those now out of college have played some ball in the NFL.

Former Bulldog Jarvis Jackson and current starting safety Reshad Jones both left the west Atlanta school to have success in Athens. In fact, Smith said he still keeps up with Jones.

“I talk with Reshad Jones still,” he said. “We played when I was in ninth grade.”

And while there is a connection between Smith and Georgia, and while he likes them “a lot” he won’t be making any decisions about colleges quickly.

“I’ve talked with my brother (former UAB and current Denver Bronco quarterback Darrell Hackney), and he’s told me not to rush into anything,” Smith said. “He said the one thing you don’t want to do is get into a situation of going to a school you rushed into committing to.”

Still, the Bulldogs have spotlighted Smith – and they are very interested. “They have been at the school a lot to talk with me,” Smith said. “I am waiting on a visit to see a little more. I want to go on a visit sometime soon. I really liked the Auburn game I went to in the fall… the Blackout. I like Georgia a lot. I might try to go to one of their camps in the summer.”