On one side, a sizzling hot season is quickly wrapping up, and on the other, the 2025 roster is shaping up to chisel out the best out of the giant CFB teams. Every coach continues lurking behind the high-prospect talents to host them for a visit, while the race is getting stingier on the other side. Auburn bagged a tentative commitment from five-star EDGE prospect Jared Smith. But the question is: is he still holding onto it? Well, it seems Smith is also visiting other schools, judging his best-ever home to suit up for. And guess what? South Carolina seems like a perfect fit for him, and Auburn might be sweating bullets as rumors of his interest grow.

Smith is set to take a visit to South Carolina to check out the Gamecocks take on Missouri. This is a big opportunity for the team to build an impressive image in front of their potential flip. But even if they do, they won’t do it for the first time. During Smith’s first visit to South Carolina earlier this year, the talented EDGE had a blasting experience. ‘‘Man, I was excited seeing the fans rush the field and watching the players play their butts off,” the Thompson High School alumnus articulated, the thrill flowing through his veins.

Analysing South Carolina’s glaring possibility to ditch Auburn, ON3’s Josh Newberg recalled, ”Jared Smith was tuned in to South Carolina’s dominant victory over Texas A&M they outscored the Aggies 24 to nothing in the second half or a 44-20 victory over the previously undefeated SEC program, and Jared Smith has been to one South Carolina game this year.”

Not only does the EDGE get to taste the success of his projected 2025 destination, but he has also developed a good bond with the people over there, ensuring a smooth transition into a new sphere. ‘‘The relationship with Sterling Lucas is strong. He’s great friends with South Carolina’s true freshman Dynamic pass rusher Dylan Stewart. The opportunity to play with Dylan Stewart for two years—I think it is very enticing,” the ON3 recruitment head added. He also noted how “South Carolina’s going to make it very difficult for Auburn to hang on to Jared Smith.”

The Alabama native pledged to the Tigers back in August of this year, just a few weeks before the football season kicked off. However, the dwindling pace of the Tigers in the season, including a recent loss against Vanderbilt, left them at the bottom of the ranking chart. Smith as a commit wants to see his program bounce back, but even if it can’t, his commitment will be unwavering. Sounds contradicting? It is what it is.

Jared Smith has stood by the Tigers through thick and thin

The high school senior is all set to leave his mark on the Auburn defense, as he’s expected to suit up for a starting spot on the Tigers’ defensive line as soon as the spring practice kicks off in 2025. Until then, he can only sit and watch a failed Auburn defense against Vanderbilt and hope for a revival. But in case the team can’t revive their momentum in the season which is very likely to happen, Smith will be very solid in his commitment. ”I see the vision, I see where everything is going, so I’m solid,” said the young defensive arm.

He will be on the watch of Auburn’s upcoming games against Georgia and South Carolina. Despite the strong distractions with a slew of other programs, one top-tier performance by the Tigers can wash away the remaining insecurity over his signing, showcasing room for growth and happiness for the newbie who was genuinely interested in the program.

“I chose Auburn because I get to stay home, because of the culture and I see the vision coach Hugh Freeze has,”  said Smith, breaking down his reason for committing to the Tigers. Also, the craziest fans, the big loud stadiums, and the electric atmosphere appealed to the 2025 top-recruit big time. Now what’s your take on South Carolina’s potential to flip Jared Smith? Let us know in the comments.