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Free report: Ohio OL Connor Smith <HR width="100%" noShade SIZE=1></TD></TR><TR><TD>
Josh Helmholdt
TheWolverine.com </TD><TD noWrap align=right>
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While Michigan waits word on one Cincinnati (Ohio) Colerain prospect's commitment intentions, another top-caliber athlete from that school, offensive lineman Connor Smith, is starting to clear things up in his mind regarding a decision. The 6-5, 300-pound Ohio product spent most of last week at Michigan's camp and was among one of the strongest position groups in attendance.
About 65 players from the Colerain program made the trip to Michigan to spend the entire week at the Wolverine's camp. This was Smith's third visit to Ann Arbor for that event and he came away with a strong feeling.
"I was very impressed with everything there – the strength coach, the head coach and the offensive line coach, Coach [Andy] Moeller," said Smith. "I was always comfortable with them from the word 'go.' I can't see how I could get more comfortable. This was my third year camping and my comfort level is already up there."
Throughout the week, Smith worked under the tutelage of Michigan's offensive line coach Moeller, and came away impressed with the Wolverine staff member's knowledge and resume.
"Obviously you can see all the all-Big Ten players he's produced with David Baas being the most recent," noted Smith. "He has put out great players at the offensive line position, so he must be a great coach."
The past two seasons, Smith has started at offensive tackle for a Colerain team that was recognized nationally for their prowess. This fall, though, he plans to switch to offensive guard and said that Michigan could be looking at him for either of the two positions.
"They didn't tell me to be honest," he said. "What I gathered from that is their plan would be to try me out at various positions."
Colerain teammate
Cobrani Mixon has stated since returning from Michigan's camp that his intentions are to make a commitment to the Wolverines, possibly as soon as next week. Smith is close to Mixon, but says where his friend goes to school is not going to have any bearing on his own decision.
"Me and Cobrani roomed together up at Michigan and his decision, whatever it is, we'll still have that friendship and that relationship," Smith added. "That's really not going to have an effect on my decision."
Last year, Colerain running back Mister Simpson pledged to the Wolverines after receiving a scholarship offer at their summer camp. Before that, fullback B.J. Askew had traveled the route from Colerain to Michigan. On the other side of the coin, Smith's father, Joe, played football for Earl Bruce in the early 1980's at Ohio State. Because of the strong Michigan and Ohio State influences on Smith, some have speculated that a decision would ultimately come down to those two schools, but Smith says that assumption is premature at best.
"I guess people can say what they want, and that may very well be the case, but I would say that you can't just close your door and just look at those schools," said Smith. "You have to have an open mind when you get into this process. I think that a lot of people thought that from the word 'go' and it's premature for that. I wouldn't be doing myself justice if I limited myself to just those two schools even though they are great schools."
It should not take long for recruiting fans to find out where Smith will be going to college. Two more visits are scheduled for this summer, then the four-star prospect plans to have his decision in.
"For right now, I'm pretty set that my decision will be August 1st at the latest," Smith said. "Around that time you should expect a decision from me. My younger brother has a baseball trip in Florida so we're going to stop at Tennessee and Florida before I make my decision. Those will be the last two stops."
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