Priority target sets official visit to Maryland
- Ahmed Ghafir
- Oct 25, 2021
- 2 min read
Paint Branch (MD) four-star athlete Octavian Smith has kept Maryland in his top group since backing off his pledge to Northwestern and has now set his official visit to Maryland.
Smith will officially visit Maryland the weekend of December 10, he tells Inside the Black and Gold. “That’s the only visit I have set right now,” Smith added. Smith will also unofficially visit Maryland this weekend when the Terps host Indiana for their homecoming game. Smith first stepped on campus back on July 30 where he and the Paint Branch 7-on-7 team were able to enjoy a brief campus tour, but the local four-star returned to campus for Maryland’s win over Kent State with his uncle.
“Me and my uncle, we loved it up there. We felt a lot of love while I was up there at the game so it was good to see them come out with the win but at the same time, it was kind of tough because I was watching them go against my cousin, Marquez Cooper,” Smith added back on September 28. Smith has been complimentary of Maryland head coach Mike Locksley since the Terps have prioritized the local athlete.
“Being in contact with coach [Mike] Locksley and them, I like what they’re doing there. I like his philosophy in terms of his investment and what he’s trying to create there, all the big-time players that are local and trying to get them to stay home. He also started a mentorship program, which is big in terms of building their leadership and their character.”
Smith has previously told Inside the Black and Gold that he holds a top five with Duke, Maryland, Northwestern, Pittsburgh and Penn State in contention but the Terps’ latest visit vaulted them “definitely in my top two now,” he added. Smith is listed as an athlete but is being recruited as a wide receiver for Maryland.
Smith is rated a four-star prospect and a 92 overall by 247Sports, sitting as the nation’s eighth-best athlete.
