Top-rated OL Trey Smith could have Clemson in his top eight

It won’t be much longer before highly-recruited offensive lineman Trey Smith (6-foot-5, 296 pounds) of Jackson, Tenn., cuts his long list of offers down to eight finalists

There’s a very good chance Clemson will be in that group. Smith plans to visit Notre Dame and Ohio State this spring and then release his elite eight this summer.

Smith has visited Clemson, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Arkansas and LSU. He was at Clemson last season for the Florida State and again in January for the junior day.

“I thought it was awesome having an actual day to spend with the coaches and getting to know them better,” Smith said of the junior day visit. “They definitely see me as a tackle there. Just going to Clemson on game day was a very exciting moment, definitely a different vibe taking it up another level.”

Smith is friends with two Clemson commitments from Tennessee, running back Cordarrion Richardson of nearby Memphis and wide receiver Amari Rodgers of Knoxville.

“Amari is my main guy,” Smith said. “Before he committed he said, ‘After I commit I am coming for you.’ “

Smith said he doesn’t have a favorite and he said a main factor in his decision will be “getting to know the coaching staff a lot better.”

Right now he doesn’t have any plans to return to Clemson this spring but will return during the season.

This story was originally published March 10, 2016 at 11:22 AM.