News Article: CB Branden Smith Update: Alabama makes the list of his four final schools

[BamaBoots]

Re: Five star CB Branden Smith is visiting Alabama this weekend for the MSU game

All I know is if we get Braden and Dre coached up by Saban, it is going to be sweet.:BigA::BigA:

 

[M2J]

Re: Five star CB Branden Smith is visiting Alabama this weekend for the MSU game

I think its between Bama and UGA, and I feel UGA will get him (not totally confident with that though). Smith is a great prospect, but I'd be just as happy if we can grab Gordon. I'm more interested on whether we get can Myles away from UGA

 

[Airborne Tider]

Re: Five star CB Branden Smith is visiting Alabama this weekend for the MSU game

I think its between Bama and UGA, and I feel UGA will get him (not totally confident with that though). Smith is a great prospect, but I'd be just as happy if we can grab Gordon. I'm more interested on whether we get can Myles away from UGA

I'm with you M2J. I would be ecstatic if we got Branden Smith but I won't be holding my breath. I would be very happy if we got Gordon and I hope he doesn't get left out because of numbers. I'm also very curious about Darren Myles. He has been very quiet and some people think he could be the surprise of our class. I definitely think we have a better chance with him than Branden Smith. IMO. RTR.:BigA:

 

[Crimson Surfer]

Branden Smith names his final four list, Alabama, Florida, FSU, and Georgia. He says he will announce his decision after he takes his visits at the U.S. Army All-American game.

BOL: Branden Smith Profile

 

[Crimson Surfer]

UGA assistants visit with Branden Smith and Jarvis Jones

Smith has made official visits to FSU, Florida and Alabama, and will go to UGA on Dec. 12. He plans to make his college announcement on Jan. 4.

Smith said he got soaked in the rain while watching FSU’s loss to Florida, but still had fun. He met with FSU coach Bobby Bowden.

“[Bowden] said all I had to do was to watch the game to see how badly they need some defensive backs,” Smith said. “He said they really needed me, and very quickly. He made a point of telling me how many defensive backs Florida State has put into the NFL over the years.”

 

[Crimson Surfer]

Mother of state’s No. 1 prospect endorses UGA

When Smith was asked if he was going to follow his mother’s advice, he said, “I love my mom and I listen to everything she says. She really likes Georgia, but she also wants me to go to the school that is the best fit for me. She said she will love and support me with whichever school I choose.”

Smith, who plays cornerback at Booker T. Washington, said he has no favorites among his four finalists of Georgia, Florida, Florida State and Alabama. He will announce a college decision on Jan. 4.

 

[Crimson Surfer]

Georgia’s Gatorade Player of Year has Florida and Alabama as finalists

Branden Smith, who has Florida and Alabama among his finalists, was named Gatorade’s Georgia Player of the Year.

The 6-foot, 170-pound Smith is also considering Georgia and Florida State, and is scheduled to have an in-home visit with Florida’s coaches on Sunday. Smith plays defensive back at Booker T. Washington.

 

[Bamafan23]

I love having a big name Georgia prospect seriously interested in the Tide.

 

[tidepreacher]

Branden enjoyed his visit to UGA this weekend, but will not commit until Jan 4. Bama is still in top 4. UGA is trying to sell him on being the "next Champ Bailey"

[url]http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/shared-blogs/ajc/cfbrecruit/entries/2008/12/15/branden_smith_w.html[/URL]

 

[M2J]

I'd love to take in the number 1 GA prospect, number 1 LA prospect, and number 1 MI prospect to go along with already predicting to have the top Florida and Alabama prospects and IMO (along with many others) the best looking prospect in Woodson and you could certainly argue (and many have) that if Bonds didn't have his injury this year he could've been a 5 star and the top prospect in SC.

We may not get some of those other guys, but its great to be seriously considered and in the final group by out of state guys like that and actually expect to get some of them.

 

[tidepreacher]

Coach Saban is meeting with Branden Smith at his school today. Go get him coach!

[url]http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/shared-blogs/ajc/cfbrecruit/entries/2008/12/17/alabama_florida_1.html[/URL]

 

[The Tider]

Do your stuff coach!!

 

[rolltide0692]

Seriously, why would you be sold on 'The next Champ Bailey', when CNS has proven that he can take players, especially in the secondary, and take them to the NFL

 

[M2J]

My question is why get sold on "The Next Champ Bailey" when Richt didn't even coach him? That's like us telling a recruit you can be the next Ozzie Newsome.

If anybody can coach him to be the next Bailey its CNS.

 

[buzzincuzzin]

Who of this years DBs(5) won't make an NFL roster????? NONE

 

[BigEasyTider]

UGA is trying to sell him on being the "next Champ Bailey"

For the record, Smith is about the 8th different prospect that UGA has billed as the "next Champ Bailey" since Bailey came out after the 1998 season.

The only thing UGA has signed more of than the "next Champ Bailey" is the "next Herschel Walker."

 

[CapstoneGrad06]

For the record, Smith is about the 8th different prospect that UGA has billed as the "next Champ Bailey" since Bailey came out after the 1998 season.

The only thing UGA has signed more of than the "next Champ Bailey" is the "next Herschel Walker."

Now that's the funniest thing I've heard all day. So, when is Danny Ware gonna finally live up to that?

 

[BigEasyTider]

Now that's the funniest thing I've heard all day. So, when is Danny Ware gonna finally live up to that?

I guess right about the same time that Reshard Dudley, Kregg Lumpkin, Thomas Brown, and Caleb King do. And that's just the guys in the last six years!

But don't you know they have the next Herschel Walker already in Knowshon Moreno? I mean sure he was about as effective as a broken prophylactic in their biggest games of the year, but don't you remember when he ran 170 against Garbage Dumpster Tech and remember when he HURDLED that guy from the Montana Truck Drivers' U?

Lol, as you can probably tell, I get a bit tired of hearing all of these Georgia players being billed by their own fans as the greatest thing to happen since Jesus rose from the dead.

 

[The Tider]

just got this email - thought I would share it

Smith is an electrifying athlete with offers from all over the country.
"The meeting with Coach Saban went very well. He was basically coming here to talk to me and my mom and make sure that I make the right decision for college," said Smith who stands 5-foot-11, 175 pounds.
"Coach Saban really wants me at Alabama and thinks that I can be a big-time player there. I know they have me as a priority prospect and it feels good to know that.
"He told me that Alabama is the right fit because I am a defensive back and he is a defensive back coach so he will always make that position a priority as far as his attenion. That is definitely a good thing. It isn't a difference maker as far as my decision, but knowing that will definitely be something that I keep in mind when I make my final decision."
Academics were also discussed, and unlike many other top recruits, grades are not an issue with Smith.
"I have a 3.0 GPA so I am good to go with my eligibility. Coach Saban just congratulated me on being a good student-athlete and told me that is what they are looking for," said Smith. "They want players that are great students and great citizens. I have talked to Coach Saban a lot of times in the past and he always mentions this so I know it is important to him. He said the football team is currently at the top as far as graduation rates so that was good for my mother to hear too."
While Smith's mother couldn't make the official visit to Tuscaloosa with the versatile star, she did get face-time with Saban during the two hour visit.
"My mom really liked Coach Saban. She thinks he is a good coach and she liked how they stressed the off the field things just as hard if not harder than football," said Smith. "She also likes Coach Lance (Thompson). He was with Coach Saban today and he has recruited me very hard the whole time."
Smith's high school coach, former South Carolina star Stanley Pritchett, was also meeting Saban for the first time.
"Coach Saban is a sharp, sharp guy. I had never dealt with him before and he knows his stuff," said Pritchett. "I think Alabama has made a great impression on Brandon. They laid out the facts for him in a business-like manner and it is a pretty strong case."
Smith claims no leaders and still plans on making his decision known at an all-star game in January.
comments- Smith was very impressed with Saban

 

[tidepreacher]

Sounds good. I really hope we get Branden! RTR