7/24/2017 football Edit

Inside Look: 2018 RB Jahmir Smith

David McKinney • InsideNDSports

Recruiting Reporter

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Sanford (N.C.) Lee County running back Jahmir Smith committed to Notre Dame on July 23rd, giving the Irish their second running back in the class and 13th commitment overall.

Both Smith and fellow commit Markese Stepp are bigger backs that can hammer teams between the tackles. Smith made a surprise visit to Notre Dame on July 18 prior to his announcement, and he was able to keep it under the radar.

The Tar Heel state running back gained offers from USC, Wisconsin, Nebraska, NC State, North Carolina, Duke, Georgia Tech, Minnesota, Vanderbilt, Virginia, California and Northwestern and many others.

With Smith in the fold, the Irish coaching staff will shut down running back recruiting for the class of 2018 and focus on future classes.

BIO AND STATS

* Rushed for 2,130 yards (6.7 per rush) and 40 touchdowns as a junior
* Named to the Raleigh News and Observer's 2016 All-Metro Football Team
* Rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns on 42 carries as a sophomore

OFFSEASON UPDATE

Smith had a quiet offseason, but did participate in the Charlotte edition of the Rivals Three-Stripe Camps on April 30.

THEY SAID IT

"Smith ran the ball often being next to the quarterback in the shot gun. There isn’t a lot of dancing or flash in his running style, making him a favorite for zone read running schemes where he’ll make one cut and go. Even with the defense likely knowing he is going to get the ball, he doesn’t get tackled behind the line of scrimmage." - The Wolfpacker.com's Jacey Zemball after seeing Smith play in January.

“The Notre Dame offer meant a lot because my coaches always told me how a Notre Dame offer would be the biggest,” Smith said. “I always thought they only offered the best so to get an offer from them is big."- Jahmir Smith after being offered by Notre Dame

BGI EVALUATION

"Smith was incredibly productive during his junior season at Lee County, racking up 2,130 yards (6.7 per rush) and 40 touchdowns. The 6-0, 194-pound back has a good frame and should easily get to over 215 pounds in college. He can make defenders miss at the line of scrimmage, but he’s better at running through tacklers than he is trying to make them miss. Smith plays with good leg drive, and with more physical maturity, his power should become his best physical asset."

"Smith does not have any special physical traits, but he has a good all-around athletic skill set. He’s a little tight in the hips and lacks explosiveness, and he needs some time to get going, but once he gets his momentum going downhill he’s a load. Smith does show nimble feet for a bigger runner, and his running back skills are quite good."

-BGI Football Analyst Bryan Driskell

Checkout the full running back big board HERE.