Just days before his most important game of the season, Josh Smith made a major decision about his future. On Tuesday, the Dutch Fork High School linebacker/defensive end committed to South Carolina, just three days ahead of his team’s showdown with Irmo for the Region 4-5A title.
The chance to come in early and represent my hometown was a big factor in my decision to choose South Carolina,” Smith said. “They recruited me heavily over the last few months.”
Smith chose the Gamecocks over offers from Ole Miss and NC State. He made an official visit to USC last weekend for their game against Texas A&M and had previously visited N.C. State last month. Although he also took an unofficial visit to Clemson, the Tigers never extended an offer.
The visit went great,” Smith said of his time at South Carolina. “I spent a lot of time with the coaches and saw things I hadn’t seen on game days. I had a chance to talk with Coach Clayton White about where he sees me fitting into the defense.”
According to Smith, Coach White sees him playing as a Mike or Will linebacker, similar to the roles currently held by Debo Williams and Demetrius Knight. Smith’s commitment marks the 21st for the Gamecocks in the Class of 2025.
The 247Sports Composite ranks him as the 25th-best player in the state. He plans to sign in the early signing period on December 4 and enroll in January.
Smith had originally committed to Coastal Carolina in April but decommitted in late September. South Carolina offered him two weeks before that decommitment, and he visited the Gamecocks for their games against LSU, Ole Miss, and Akron.
The 6-foot-2, 230-pound senior has been a standout for Dutch Fork’s defense for the past two years. He was selected for the Shrine Bowl all-star game last month.
“He’s a quiet player and a quiet leader, but he has a real burst to the ball,” said Dutch Fork head coach Tom Knotts. “He’s a solid hitter and understands football really well. He’s going to be a great player wherever he goes to college.
Smith leads Dutch Fork this season with 55 tackles (12 for loss), seven sacks, and three quarterback pressures. Last year, he posted 63 tackles (20 for loss), seven sacks, and 15 quarterback hurries, helping lead the Silver Foxes to the Class 5A state championship. Dutch Fork is currently 8-0 and ranked No. 1 in Class 5A.
