Florida commit Ja’Bois Smith is exactly the kind of player summer rankings overlook

One of the ongoing critiques we here at Hail Florida Hail have had over the years is the annual recruiting rankings updates that happen every summer. There is no real football being played and all of the players were given an updated ranking back in February upon the completion of real football, so some of the wild swings in recruiting feel forced.

It’s with that in mind that Rivals dropped their updated rankings for the class of 2027, and while most Florida players stayed where they were at, there is one player who dropped that we probably could have predicted would have dropped because he doesn’t fit the mold of camp season.

Florida LB Ja’Bois Smith drops in Rivals rankings

Back in May, Florida picked up the commitment of then top 150 LB Ja’Bois Smith out of Georgia. Since his commitment, 247 has dropped him from No. 177 to No. 231 overall. Rivals just updated their rankings and dropped him from No. 236 in their rankings to No. 273 overall.

If you follow what the summer camp circuit tends to reward compared to what Smith brings to the table on film, none of this is surprising, nor should any of this be of concern to Florida fans. 

When Smith committed to Florida, we said:

“Smith is interesting because he hasn’t done a ton of the camps that would boost his ranking even more, but what he puts on film makes him look like a linebacker who could create some real mismatch problems for opponents down the road. What stands out with Smith is that even when he doesn’t have a full head of steam to greet a running back in the hole, his power seems effortless to bring guys down, and there is no struggle from him to put guys on the ground.

But he also doubles as a running back, and while he doesn’t exactly have breakaway speed, teams just seem incapable of dragging him down or having any answer for him. There are legit times he will plow through four players who all seem helpless in trying to tackle him.”

You know what camp season doesn’t reward?

Linebackers who can tackle guys with zero effort and running backs who can fend off four would-be tacklers.

This isn’t to say that there is zero value in camps or that recruiting rankings should forever be set in stone. But the football that is played at these camps and 7 v 7 competitions isn’t real football. The quick and elusive players shine at these things because they don’t have to worry about getting hit by players like Smith.

So Gators fans shouldn’t panic too much from this rankings drop and should remain excited that once Smith gets on campus, he will be a wrecking ball for years to come.

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