[LeeCoUKFan]

2015 linebacker likes Cats, Toppers

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Warren Central linebacker Emmitt Smith is a top rising junior prospect and one of several BCS-worthy talents from Bowling Green in recent memory.

Adrian Middleton committed to Kentucky earlier this year. Eli Brown is committed to Vanderbilt from the 2015 class.

And then there's Smith. He's just the latest from that part of the state that's making ripples on the recruiting landscape.

With offers from Kentucky, Purdue and Western Kentucky, Smith is sure to rank among the state's top prospects. Along with Damien Harris, Elijah Sindelar and Eli Brown, he was the fourth from the state to receive an offer from the Wildcats.

Smith told Cats Illustrated he received that UK offer during the last school year after Neal Brown visited his school and watched him work out.

"We've talked a couple of times," Smith said. "I talked to their coaches when I went up for the spring game. That was my first time up there. I liked the fans and the tradition. There were a lot of people there.

"One thing I like about the coaches is they have a good history at the schools they came from."

Smith has also been to Western Kentucky before and he said UK and WKU currently top his list. He is planning to visit Tennessee at some point down the road as well.

The 2015 recruit is not a native Kentuckian. He grew up in Arizona and was a fan of the Sun Devils when he was younger. That probably will not be a factor in his decision as he has resided in Kentucky since 2008 and would now prefer to attend school close to where he lives now. That could bode very well for the Cats.

But don't expect an early decision from Smith.

"I'm gonna wait 'til after my senior season," he said.

Smith added that he plans to attend games at both Kentucky and Louisville this fall.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1533565