Second-year head coach Tim Beck and Coastal Carolina got a jump start on their class for the 2025 cycle on Tuesday, as 6-foot-2, 220-pound edge rusher Josh Smith pledged his verbal commitment to the Chanticleers over Appalachian State, Charleston Southern, Charlotte, Connecticut, Marshall, and Wofford.
"My recruitment is 100% closed. Thank you for all of the coaches who have reached out to me for a scholarship opportunity," Smith said.
Coastal may have gotten a steal on the physical pass-rusher who was a force at the line of the scrimmage for Dutch Fork in 2023, Smith who was a key contributor to the Silver Foxes' football operation and a shining standout in the trenches of the Midlands.
Smith was all over the field for the Silver Foxes under the "Friday Night Lights of the Palmetto State" last fall, recording a whopping 63 tackles, 43 solo tackles, and 15 tackles for loss, highly improving upon his 22 tackle, nine tackle for loss performance in 2022.
Under the leadership of head coach Tom Knotts, Smith and the Silver Foxes are seeking another state championship to add to their trophy case in 2024. Dutch Fork has won seven of the last eight state championships in the South Carolina High School Leauge.
But in the meantime, Smith talked all things Chanticleers with Palmetto Preps recruiting editor and co-owner, Lee Wardlaw. Here is that conversation:
PALMETTO PREPS: What led to your commitment to Coastal Carolina, and what do you believe that head coach Tim Beck is building with the Chanticleers?
SMITH: "Coastal Carolina made my family and I a priority without pressuring me into a decision, which was a huge thing for me, not only because it is a beautiful area with a great program. Coach Beck went bowling in his first year, and they won that game with their starting quarterback out of the game. To me, that shows the fight and grit of the team, and they're really a family. I've fully bought into that."
PALMETTO PREPS: Describe your relationship with Outside Linebackers Coach Josh Miller and how that played into your pledge to Coastal.
SMITH: "Our relationship is more than the sport. It's genuine. It's not just a text or a call here and there, and he's not blowing up my phone, either. We don't just have base-level conversations. The effort that he put into getting to know me was a really important factor, because he is the one who will be mentoring me, and of course, coaching me for the next few years or so."
"Large, dynamic pass-rusher that flies off of the ball from the two-technique or three-technique. Fast off the ball with twitchy, measured motion, with hand-fighting and footwork in sync. Utilizes long arms to push offensive lineman at his will. Uses physical, violent swim moves to leverage with blockers, and when breaking away towards the backfield,
When breaking away from blockers and moving into the backfield, crashes with speed, exciting hits. Uses length, arms, speed, and driving hits to blow back blockers, driving them to the ground and finishing the play.
Gets in between the gap and finds the ball-carrier to stop the run. Gets low and changes direction, demonstrating good body control, to finish the play and make the tackle, tossing his hips to slam the running back to the ground.
Also blocks field goals and punts, crashing through the line and utilizing his long arms that help make him a special athlete. Puts on entertaining, SEC-like performance on the special teams."
