‘Why not be a part of that?’ Thompson 5-star Jared Smith breaks down his commitment to Auburn

In the moments leading up to Jared Smith’s commitment, the poster displayed to the right of him showed the six schools he was considering: Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Ole Miss, South Carolina and USC.

Meanwhile, in the moments following his announcement, that poster was flipped around to reveal that his decision was all but a surprise.

Smith, a five-star edge out of Alabaster’s Thompson High School, committed to Auburn on Saturday night from a rooftop restaurant in the Uptown area of ​​Birmingham.

And in the photo printed on the flipped around poster was Smith as child holding and pointing to an Auburn hat, despite being surrounded by family members dressed in support of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

“I’m an underdog,” Smith said following Saturday’s announcement. “Every time the Iron Bowl came, everybody was saying Alabama was going to win and I’m like, ‘Nah, I’m gonna go for Auburn.’ And then the Kick Six happened. It just started there.”

Now, should Smith’s commitment to the Tigers stick, he’ll no longer just be “going for” Auburn, but he’ll also be playing for Auburn’s defense.

Measuring 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, Smith ranks as the No. 2 edge rusher in the class of 2025, according to 247Sports.

Smith also ranks as the second-best prospect out of the state of Alabama.

And with his commitment, Smith not only becomes the highest-ranked prospect of Auburn’s 2025 class, but he also helps the Tigers boast the commitments of eight of the top-10-ranked prospects in the state of Alabama.

“It’s the people,” Smith said when asked what set Auburn apart. “Just the people inside make it special.”

With his pledge on Saturday night, Smith gave Hugh Freeze and the Tigers their eighth blue-chip commitment in a week’s span.

After earning the commitments of five blue-chip prospects during Big Cat Weekend on July 27, flipping four-star athlete Derick Smith away from Alabama, winning the pledge of four-star Thompson safety Anquon Fegans and getting Jared Smith in the fold on Saturday, Auburn’s 2025 recruiting class ranks fifth in the country with 22 total commitments.

“Just the culture they’re bringing down there. The atmosphere, the players and the class alone,” Smith said when asked why he chose the Tigers over his five other finalists. “They’ve got top guys like Anquon Fegans, Eric Winters, all those types of guys. Why not be a part of that?”

And as impressive as Auburn’s class already is, Smith has his eyes on a few he’d like to add to the fold.

According to 247Sports, Parker High School cornerback Na’eem Offord is the No. 1-ranked prospect in the state and is someone Smith hopes to coax to The Plains.

In addition to Offord, Smith is hoping he can help Auburn flip four-star quarterback Deuce Knight away from Notre Dame.

“That’s who I’m on heavy,” Smith said, referring to Offord and Knight.