[LeeCoUKFan]

Cats have made impression on top 2015 linebacker

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Kentucky is one of the schools that has made an early impression on 2015 linebacker Roquan Smith, one of the South's top underclassmen.

It's not just the fact that Kentucky has offered, Smith said. He visited Lexington earlier this year and was impressed by the entire spring game experience.

"I'm not sure on the date (of the offer) but I went up during the spring game and I had a great time," Smith said. "It was a pretty good place. The fans were pretty nice. I mean, 50,000 (fans) at the spring game? That was impressive."

The coaching staff has also made a good impression on the 6-foot-2, 195-pound linebacker. Especially one coach in particular.

"I talked to Coach (Derrick) Ansley a lot and we're still talking a lot," Smith said. "When I was up there I talked to the linebackers coach (D.J. Eliot) too. Coach Ansley seems like a pretty good guy. He came down to see me during the spring.

Smith's family made the trip to Kentucky with him and enjoyed the visit as well. The Wildcats will need to continue to aggressively recruit Smith and have to hope to get him on campus again. That's because many of the South's top programs are making him a big priority as well.

Pulling elite recruits out of southern states is always a tall order. Smith has taken two unofficial trips to Georgia recently. He has also visited Auburn and will be at Tennessee this weekend.

"Nobody's stood out yet," Smith said. "They're all about the same. I just want a bond with the coaches. I'm trying to find somewhere I feel at home at."

Through four games Montezuma (Ga.) Macon County is 3-1 and Smith has been outstanding with 52 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble.

Auburn, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Syracuse, Tennessee and UCLA are the other schools that have offered Smith.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1559833