USC, Clemson target OrTre Smith takes recruitment in stride

Wando High wide receiver OrTre Smith boasts the title of top prospect in South Carolina for his class. He doesn’t pay it much mind.

“I don’t remember when I first heard I was No. 1,” Smith said. “But I heard (Lake Marion’s Tank Robinson) was No. 1, and then (Union County’s) Shi Smith was No. 1. And then my name got in the loop, and I was No. 1. But it really didn’t bother me because those two guys, they’re good athletes too.”

He’s had an offer to play for Florida State since he was a sophomore and just added offers from Oklahoma, Ole Miss and West Virginia to the group that includes Clemson and South Carolina in addition to Notre Dame, Alabama and Georgia. The process hasn’t overwhelmed Smith.

He said the No. 1-in-South Carolina designation from 247Sports’ composite ranking doesn’t mean much because others are working hard, maybe harder than him at points. He acknowledges some might be better than him, definitely faster – something that gnaws at him. But he has a unique perspective and is more concerned with the larger goal.

“OrTre’s handled it very well,” said Wando coach Jimmy Noonan, praising Smith for his athletic and academic achievements. “OrTre is first a team player. He’s a humble young man and he’s really taken it all in stride. He appreciates the attention like any young man would. But at the end of the day, he’s a competitor and really does not like the limelight, really does not. He knows what his core values are and he really sticks to them.”

Smith said he feels the two in-state schools have made him a priority as he’s in frequent contact with Tigers and Gamecocks coaches. He spoke frequently with former USC coach Steve Spurrier, and that’s continued with new coach Will Muschamp and wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon.

Smith has formed a bond with McClendon.

“He’s funny,” said Smith, whose mother played volleyball at Clemson. “We and him, we click I guess, we get each other. He’s a fun guy to be around.

“Me personally, I get along with him and my mom likes him too.”

This summer, Smith plans to attend a large camp in Georgia run by Rivals and is holding out hope his film can propel him to a spot at The Opening – an ankle injury prevented him from previously participating in the Nike-sponsored recruiting event.

Prior to that, Smith is taking the spring to soak up the recruiting experience. He plans to take a few visits before cutting down his list – possibly to a top six. He talked with his mother about a time to commit, maybe his birthday on Sept. 11. He’ll see how comfortable he is at that point.

“His mom’s done a great job with him,” Noonan said. “They’re a very close family. That’s first with both of them. He wants to go to a school where he can play early. He wants to go to a place that has a degree.”

Noonan said Smith doesn’t know what his academic concentration will be, but hopes to work with children in his post-playing career.

He’ll have a wide array of choices.

Smith didn’t expect his recruitment to blow up, securing a few offers in his sophomore year, a few more at the start of his junior season. Things have ramped up since then, and he’s got a lot of good choices.

Even if he didn’t, Smith wouldn’t feel too much stress from the process.

“It wasn’t a problem to me because I still had an offer to a school,” Smith said. “That’s free education. My mom doesn’t have to pay for that. So it didn’t bother me if I didn’t have this offer or that offer or how many offers I had.”

This story was originally published May 24, 2016 at 6:35 PM with the headline "USC, Clemson target OrTre Smith takes recruitment in stride."