4-star OT Carde Smith previews Wednesday commitment
Mobile (Ala.) Williamson four-star offensive tackle Carde Smith is set to choose between Mississippi State, Auburn and Florida State at 2 p.m. ET on his Instagram on Wednesday.
Smith ranks No. 261 overall, No. 24 among offensive tackles and is the No. 16 recruit from Alabama in the 2025 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
The blue-chipper joined the Five-Star Flex with Phillip Dukes late Tuesday night to preview his commitment.
“They’re getting a dog that’s going to compete every day at practice to get better and come for that No. 1 spot,” Smith said of what he brings to a program.
Smith on MSU, Auburn and FSU
Smith had the following to say about each of his finalists ahead of his commitment.
Mississippi State: “The coaching staff is amazing. That’s a great environment to be around.”
Auburn: “Same thing, great coaching staff. The players, the culture, everything about it.”
Florida State: “A winning program. The coaches, they’ve been there for a minute, the culture there at Florida State is coming back up on the rise.”
Visits to Bulldogs and Tigers, offer from ‘Noles
Most recently, Smith visited Mississippi State.
“When we got there we went to the facility first and then I got to sit in with the position meeting,” Smith told Maroon and White. “Then we watched practice, did a tour and then talked with Coach Jeff Lebby. It was great being around Coach (Cody) Kennedy again, too.”
Smith added that he was impressed with Kennedy.
“The position meeting was a good experience,” Smith added. “I like how he talked to everybody, the starters and everybody. He really talked to the whole group and went over everything they were going to do in practice. Then Coach Lebby told me I was not just wanted but also needed. He said I can really help their program.”
The 6-foot-6, 300-pound Smith visited Auburn in late March, when he met with Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze.
“We talked about life, we didn’t really talk about football,” Smith told Auburn Live. “We talked about life and how he would develop me as a man and as a football player at the same time. It’s great, you have to have people on your side to lean on when times get rough. Your head coach will always be there when nobody else is.”
Florida State offensive line coach Alex Atkins offered Smith back in January.
“I think Atkins is a good dude,” Smith told Warchant. “His message was, ‘If you come, we’re gonna work.’ … Our relationship is pretty good. I talked to him a couple times. He is real. He’s gonna tell you everything how it is.”