This is a post in our series of Hello posts, where we breakdown each newcomer in the 2024-2025 high school recruiting class. Up next is OL Carde Smith. For our previous Hello! post, check out:
Position:
Offensive tackle.
The Details:
| 247 | On3 | ESPN | Rivals | |
| Ranking | 91/100 4 stars #233 natl. #24 OT #13 player in AL | 92/100 4 stars #140 natl. #12 OT #5 player in AL | 81/100 4 stars #225 natl #28 OT #15 player in AL | 5.9/6.1 4 stars #81 natl #12 OT #6 player in AL |
| Height/Weight | 6’5 293 lbs | 6’6.5 295 lbs | 6’5 295 lbs | 6’5 300 lbs |
| Composite | 94.02/100 4 stars #133 natl. #15 OT #9 player in AL | 93.18/100 4 stars #140 natl. #14 OT #10 player in AL | N/A | N/A |
High School:
Carde Smith attended Williamson High School in Alabama. Williamson is in the 3rd largest classification in Alabama high school football (5A). Smith was a 3-year starter for the Williamson Lions, leading them to a 10-2 record his senior year.
Williamson High School enrolls students from 6th through 12th grade and still has fewer than 1000 students. Surprisingly, however, Williamson has a very rich football history.
Alums include former NFL players JaMarcus Russell (the #1 overall draft pick by the Oakland Raiders), Nick Fairley (former Auburn star defensive lineman), Tee Martin (former Tennessee QB) and Roger Lee McCreary (Tennessee Titans cornerback).
My favorite Williamson High alum, however, is Rich Caster. Rich was a great tight end and played in the NFL for 10+ years but more interestingly (to me anyway) — Caster is the father of AEW wrestler “Platinum” Max Caster. “Platinum” Max Caster owes me royalties for inventing the chant “Ohhhhhh…….Scissor Me Daddy” to the tune of The White Stripe’s Seven Nation Army song. I invented the cheer while I was at AEW’s All Out pay per view in Chicago in 2022. The chant helped make Max’s tag team (which included former WWE star Billy Gunn), The Acclaimed, one of the most popular tag teams in wrestling. Max, if you’re reading this, you’re welcome. And yes, I live a very strange life. Click the link to hear the chant in action.
The scoooooooop:
Smith grew up an Alabama fan but committed to Auburn early. Then, a week after visiting USC, Smith committed to the Trojans (not surprising for a Southern kid visiting California for the first time). Smith spent nearly four months on the Trojans’ commitment list before re-opening his recruitment last fall.
Smith took an unofficial visit to Colorado when the Buffs hosted Baylor, and he returned to the Front Range on an official visit to take in CU’s game against Cincinnati.
He committed to CU shortly after the Cincinnati game. Smith said:
“It was amazing, I loved the energy. The game, being around everyone, everything really. It was great going to the student section and seeing my name on the poster was also great. I loved the game atmosphere and the student section.”
Run the tape!
Smith flashes high-level athleticism at the right tackle position where he shows an ability to win consistently at the point of attack by utilizing his size and frame to overwhelm opposing defenders. He also looks like he could carry another 20-25 pounds relatively easily – in fact, I suspect his ability to play this fall is dependent upon whether he can add another 20 pounds to his frame as he appears a little lean.
247Sports national recruiting analyst Cooper Petagna provided the following analysis of Smith earlier this year:
“Appears to exhibit some quick twitch explosiveness off the line of scrimmage while displaying some natural power and play strength to drive defenders off the ball consistently. Excels as a run blocker at this point of his trajectory but will more than likely need a year or two of coaching to continue to develop as a pass protector. Good player that possesses very little verified athletic context but size and above average athleticism suggest he can eventually grow into a multi-year starter.”
Right tackle or left tackle?
Smith played right tackle for Williamson High School, and will probably play right tackle at CU.
Prototypically, teams will put their bigger, less agile offensive tackles on the right side of the line and often cover (flank) them with a tight end to help in pass protection. Teams usually have their most athletic offensive tackle on the left side of the line, which is a right-handed quarterback’s blindside. However, Smith is probably the more athletic lineman that CU has signed in the last five or six years, with one exception — left tackle Jordan Seaton. Because Seaton plays on the left, expect Smith to play on the right.
Smith played in the 38th annual Mississippi vs. Alabama High School All-Star team and was named MVP over 25+ other big-time Division 1 athletes. On3 noted the following:
“At over 6-foot-6 with plus length, Smith has the best tackle frame in attendance. Of all the offensive linemen on hand, the Mobile (Ala.) Williamson product was also clearly the most comfortable in pass protection. Smith had a strong practice session on Wednesday morning. He locked horns with Zion Grady in 1-on-1’s and held up well against the On300 pass rusher. Smith showed outstanding quickness in his pass set, in addition to encouraging play strength and anchor. The Colorado signee got better and better as the practice wore on. Smith pitched a clean sheet in the team portion, surrendering no pressures from his right tackle spot. While he’s still a bit lean at this point in time, Smith has the frame to fill out to well over 300 pounds, while maintaining his athleticism.”
Smith is a good enough athlete to play left tackle — and I fully expect him to move over to the left side once Jordan Seaton turns to the NFL. Smith has outstanding length and has arms that measure 35.5”. This would’ve been the 5th longest out of 71 offensive lineman that measured in at the 2024 NFL combine (!) — Smith has elite physical tools.
I want to hit the brakes one time in this post because it’s important to note that true freshmen play less often than ever before because of how teams replenish their rosters via the transfer portal. Still, the best young players do see the field, as Jordan Seaton demonstrated last year. I think it’s possible that Smith is starting at CU at right tackle by the end of the season. Chrris Hummer from 247 names Smith to the All Impact Team as a freshman that is most likely to make an immediate impact in the 2025 season. He’ll need to compete with RT Philip Houston and Texas A&M transfer Aki Ogunbiyi. Houston was arguably CU’s best offensive lineman down the stretch last season, so if Houston gets playing time, he’ll have earned it.
Smith was able to practice with the team during bowl game preparation, so that could prove to be very valuable as he enters his first spring practice.
But how does he fit into the CU multi-verse?
Carde Smith, like London Merritt, Alexander McPherson and Quentin Gibson, committed to Colorado on the Nightcap Show with Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson on Thanksgiving evening. He fits right in.
Excitement level (out of 5 stars):
****. These are the types of linemen that elite college football programs consistently recruit and develop. Carde Smith has NFL potential with his outstanding size, length, and athleticism; he has the raw ability to play at any school in the country, and he chose Colorado. While I certainly wouldn’t expect Carde Smith to start as a true freshman—it can’t be overstated how uncommon it is for an 18 year-old linemen out of high school to beat out a 23 year-old college football veteran—he has the talent and pedigree to at least push a few upperclassmen in Fall camp.
Welcome Carde! We’re psyched you’re in the black and gold!