Florida 2027 4-Star QB Champ Smith Updates Spring Visits

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

Offseason action on and off the field, and on the diamond, is heating up for Champ Smith. The 2027 Spanish River (Boca Raton, Fla.) gunslinger is focused on his game, competing in exposure camps, and taking recruiting visits. Ahead of a weekday stop at Auburn, Smith (6-2, 190) gave an update on all his activities.

“The offseason has been going great,” Smith said. “Our team has morning workouts. I’ve been in the gym working on getting bigger, faster, and stronger; that’s one of the things you can control. You can control making the best possible version of yourself. We’ve had a lot of baseball games. We only have two losses; we are hoping to make a state run.”

Smith added, “Right now, I’m doing more heavy lifting. Being sore is okay right now, I’m not preparing for a game. I’ve been doing speed training and working on specific techniques; that is really important. I’ve been working on more in game movements. Running straight is great, but you have to make guys miss. I’ve been doing flexibility training too.”

More information was given on playing America’s Pastime, “I’m playing well. I’m playing shortstop, it has been great, and I’m batting fourth.”

Over the weekend, Smith got one-on-one time with top quarterbacks in the game.

“This weekend I was at a retreat ran by Bo Nix (Denver Broncos) and his dad Patrick Nix,” Smith stated. “There were 10 other quarterbacks there. Jarrett Stidham (Denver Broncos) was there and so was Oregon QB Austin Novosad; all three were there.

“It was a special moment watching them break down film. Stidham spoke about Tom Brady, and I got to watch how they look at NFL film; that is complex. I learned a lot from them. With Austin, him being from Oregon, you get to see the college side of things. He broke down his film as well. Bo and Jarrett gave the pro version. There was a lot of information given this weekend.”

During the open period in January, Mississippi State, Miami, FIU, Auburn, USF, FAU, FSU, Kentucky, Illinois, UCF, and Stanford were among the teams to stop by the Spanish River campus. Another round will be headed back to Boca Raton in the coming weeks.

“They want to see me throw in person this spring,” Smith shared. “Coach Shannon Dawson at Miami, he said he gets everywhere outside of Florida and in northern Florida in the open period then during the spring hits the areas in south Florida. Auburn, Kentucky, Illinois, Stanford, and Mississippi State want to see me throw this spring. USF, I just got off the phone with their QB coach. He made it seem they will be there.”

Holding 14 offers, there is a long list of teams building relationships with Smith that could join the club.

“Miami, Illinois, Alabama, NC State, Duke, Florida, FSU, all the FL schools, Texas, LSU, UCLA, Indiana, Mississippi State, and there are a few more,” Smith said.

Earlier this month, Smith visited three schools in three days.

“I was at North Carolina on March 5th, they offered me then,” Smith stated. “Then I went to App State on March 6th, they offered then, and I went to Auburn on March 7th; they had already offered me.”

The Tar Heels visit put Smith in front of one of the best football coaches of all time.

“It was awesome,” Smith shared. “We got there late; we were driving up after a baseball game. Coach (Michael) Lombardi, he’s their general manager, he came over taking to me. His son (Matt), who is the QB coach, told me coach (Freddie) Kitchens (OC) and I liked your film and that they wanted to offer me.

“Because I got there late, it was after their practice. They told me congratulations and told me we want you up here again. Coach (Bill) Belichick talked to me for a couple of minutes. He said, “I’m glad you are here.” He talked to us separately. He was straight forward saying he was not handling the offense as much.”

Insight on the time with the Mountaineers was given, “Those coaches came from South Carolina, they wanted me to come up before they made the offer to make it more special. That was cool as well.”

On Tuesday, Smith visits Auburn again.

“They had an early morning practice last time; we missed the practice,” Smith stated. “I am going back to experience the practice and grow the relationship with their coaches.”

There is a chance Smith will visit the Kentucky Wildcats on Wednesday.

Some of the other offering teams for Smith include Arkansas, Charlotte, Eastern Kentucky, Kentucky, Maryland, Ole Miss, Purdue, South Carolina, Syracuse, West Virginia, and Western Michigan.

Photo credit: Smith family; Champ Smith at Oregon