5-star UGA commit Nolan Smith: 'Coach Pruitt is building it'

Tennessee hosted one of the top players in the country over the weekend, as 5-star outside linebacker Nolan Smith made his way to Rocky Top for the first time.

The Georgia commit promised Vols defensive coordinator Kevin Sherrer that he’d give Tennessee a chance, so the IMG standout took his first of five official visits to Knoxville.

“I never been to Tennessee. I told (coach Sherrer), I had all five of my officials set, but then I'd make room for him. I had to come up here and see him,” Smith said.

“The atmosphere up there. It’s building. It reminds me of Athens when we were 7-5.”

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound linebacker joined his IMG teammate and Tennessee commit Chris Akporgohene on the visit, and like many prospects, Smith was impressed with Knoxville on his first look

“This place is beautiful," he said.

"If you take Tennessee out of Knoxville, Knoxville is still a nice city. It has a nice atmosphere.”

Smith made it a point to come see Sherrer, who he actually committed to at Georgia when Tennessee’s assistant was in charge of the Bulldogs’ outside linebackers. He’s also known head coach Jeremy Pruitt for several years, believing the first-year head coach is the right man to ultimately turnaround Tennessee.

“Watch out for the Vols,” Smith said. “Coach Pruitt is building it. He's building it right.”

Smith watched Tennessee lose badly to Missouri, but the nation’s No. 10 prospect wasn’t deterred by what he saw. He walked away from the weekend believing Tennessee will be a different team in the years ahead.

“The things (Pruitt) has building is not going to be done in a day, but it’s going to be done,” Smith said.

“Not to talk bad about the previous head coach but you can’t be handed oranges and be trying to make lemon juice. You can’t do that. He has nothing and trying to turn it into something. It’s going to be a little hard at first.”

Smith remains committed to Georgia, as Tennessee is simply the latest school pushing for a flip. The 5-star will take an official visit to Alabama for the Iron Bowl next weekend with later trips to “Ohio State, Penn State and then of course Georgia.”

So what was Tennessee's lasting message to Smith before he flew home Sunday?

“Give us a chance. Just look at us,” he said.

“I never been to Tennessee. Coach Butch Jones never called me. Never talked to me at all. I don’t know why. But I talked to coach Sherrer and we got up here and it was fun. I told them I’m not going to take no officials to schools I’m really not considering."