The Gators have landed commit No. 3 of the 2018 recruiting cycle from in-state safety C.J. Smith of West Palm Beach. Smith becomes the second defensive back to join Florida’s latest recruiting class, joining cornerback Divaad Wilson.

https://twitter.com/Cj_Csmith/status/846753841886482432

News of Smith’s commitment was broke by Ryan Bartow of 247Sports. According to Bartow, Smith’s main recruiter was Florida’s new running back coach Ja’Juan Seider. It would appear head coach Jim McElwain has already begun to reap the rewards from his decision to hire Seider from West Virginia.

The 6-foot-2, 193-pound Smith has verbally committed to Florida despite holding scholarship offers from Alabama, LSU, South Carolina, Tennessee, Michigan, and Oklahoma among others. Smith ranks as the nation’s No. 17 safety prospect and the No. 40 overall player from Florida, according to his 247Sports Composite Rankings.

Check out Smith’s highlight reel to get an idea of how he could fit into the defensive schemes employed by the Gators:

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