Syracuse football recruiting: Ja’Quirius Smith commits to Orange

The Syracuse Orange added their fifth recruit for the class of 2018 on Tuesday morning, following the commitment of Florida outside linebacker Ja’Quirius Smith.

While Smith committed to rival University of Syracuse, we’re still happy to take him as a member of the Orange instead.

Smith’s a 6-foot-2, 200-pound prospect from Lakeland, Fla., just east of Tampa (where current players Rex Culpepper and Scoop Bradshaw are from). The 247Sports composite ratings peg him as a three-star right now. His other offers included Purdue, USF, Western Kentucky, Bowling Green, Southern Miss, East Carolina and Charlotte; not too shabby of a list.

The speedy linebacker is a big get for Brian Ward, who was Smith’s primary recruiter during the process. While he’s the first Florida addition for 2018, there’s obviously a very large contingent of Sunshine State talent on the roster already. Smith’s the seconder defender added for 2018, joining Trill Williams (an athlete who will likely play on that side of the ball).

Welcome aboard, Ja’Quirius!