Stanford lands 4-star Texas TE Kaden Smith

The usually tight end rich Stanford program missed out on landing a cornerstone target in their 2015 recruiting class but played catch-up quickly getting a verbal commitment from Kaden Smith on Saturday.

Smith, 6’5”, 233 pounds, became a recruiting target after his sophomore season when he caught 40 passes for 640 yards with eight touchdowns. In 2014 he continued impressing recruiters as a pass catching and blocking option at the next level hauling down 33 more receptions for 511 yards.

With success on the field for Marcus High School came college scholarship offers. Heading into the weekend Smith was nearing 20 offers from schools like Arkansas, Clemson, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Alabama, Texas, Auburn, Georgia, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. Smith made the rounds unofficially visiting Alabama, Texas, Texas A&M, and Baylor. After multiple visits to both Bama and Stanford the two perennial Top 25 teams seemed to be competing for the Flower Mound, Texas native.

In the end Stanford landed Smith’s commitment during an unofficial visit to Palo Alto.

Smith is the third Stanford verbal commitment to the 2016 recruiting class joining quarterback K.J. Costello and defensive tackle Bo Peek.

2016 Stanford Commitment List

QB K.J. Costello, 6’4”, 218 lbs, Santa Margarita Catholic, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

DT Bo Peek, 6’3”, 290 lbs, Berkeley Prep, Tampa, Florida

TE Kaden Smith, 6’5”, 233 lbs, Marcus High School, Flower Mound, Texas

 

 

Written by Ryan Wright

Photo credit: al.com; Kaden Smith competes during the Opening in Dallas.