Texas wide receiver Jerminic Smith put up huge numbers in high school with 68 catches for 1,216 yards and 12 touchdowns his senior year at South Garland. Now, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound Smith is bringing that playmaking ability to Iowa City where he hopes to play for the Hawkeyes as a freshman this year. We caught up with the three-star prospect to talk about preparing for college, when he will arrive at Iowa, and much more.
Q: What's your spring been like as you wrap up high school?
SMITH: It's been good. I've just been really focusing on finishing strong and trying to get ready to go down there to Iowa.
Q: When you make the move to Iowa City?
SMITH: June 10. I'm going to get down there right away to start summer school and start working out.
Q: What made you want to get there as soon as possible?
SMITH: I just want to try to learn as much as I can this summer.
Q: What are you looking forward to in getting up there this summer?
SMITH: Just really getting to know my teammates and putting in some work with them.
Q: Which coaches have you been talking with and what has been their message?
SMITH: I talk to Coach Kennedy, the receivers coach, and he's told me he's going to get me ready to play.
Q: Is that your mindset coming in, trying to get on the field as a true freshman? Is that your goal?
SMITH: Yeah, it is. Just helping out any way possible. If I get on the field, I've got to make plays. If I don't, I've got to wait my turn.
Q: Coming in, what are your strengths and what you still need to improve on?
SMITH: I've really improved on my weaknesses like getting off the line better and stuff like that.
Q: What are your strengths coming in as a receiver?
SMITH: My route running, my hands, and just being able to get open.
Q: Have you found out what number you are wearing at Iowa?
SMITH: #1.
Q: Is that what you wanted?
SMITH: Yeah, the receiver coach said he reserved my number, so I thanked him a lot for doing that.
Q: Going back to your recruiting, once you visited Iowa you came back and committed right away. What was it that you saw on that visit that made you comfortable?
SMITH: Just the atmosphere. I just fell in love and felt like I could make an impact there. I liked the strength and conditioning coach, the head coach, and everybody. It felt like home.
Q: After you committed, you had some Big 12 schools and others showing interest. What was that like as you had different schools trying to pull you in different directions?
SMITH: I was with Iowa all the way.
Q: Who were the other schools that came in and talked to you?
SMITH: TCU, Texas Tech, and OU.
Q: Did OU offer?
SMITH: No.
Q: But Texas Tech and TCU did at one point right?
SMITH: Yeah.
Q: Was it tough saying no to schools closer to home like that?
SMITH: Yeah, but I've got to do what I've got to do, so not really.
Q: Did your older brother play in junior college in the state of Iowa?
SMITH: Yeah, he played at Ellsworth. It's kind of in the country, but where I'm going is more in the city.
Q: Was that kind of what you expected on your first visit to Iowa City? That it was out in the country?
SMITH: Yeah, I did, but when I got there, it was great. It was like home.
Q: What's your spring been like as you wrap up high school?
SMITH: It's been good. I've just been really focusing on finishing strong and trying to get ready to go down there to Iowa.
Q: When you make the move to Iowa City?
SMITH: June 10. I'm going to get down there right away to start summer school and start working out.
Q: What made you want to get there as soon as possible?
SMITH: I just want to try to learn as much as I can this summer.
Q: What are you looking forward to in getting up there this summer?
SMITH: Just really getting to know my teammates and putting in some work with them.
Q: Which coaches have you been talking with and what has been their message?
SMITH: I talk to Coach Kennedy, the receivers coach, and he's told me he's going to get me ready to play.
Q: Is that your mindset coming in, trying to get on the field as a true freshman? Is that your goal?
SMITH: Yeah, it is. Just helping out any way possible. If I get on the field, I've got to make plays. If I don't, I've got to wait my turn.
Q: Coming in, what are your strengths and what you still need to improve on?
SMITH: I've really improved on my weaknesses like getting off the line better and stuff like that.
Q: What are your strengths coming in as a receiver?
SMITH: My route running, my hands, and just being able to get open.
Q: Have you found out what number you are wearing at Iowa?
SMITH: #1.
Q: Is that what you wanted?
SMITH: Yeah, the receiver coach said he reserved my number, so I thanked him a lot for doing that.
Q: Going back to your recruiting, once you visited Iowa you came back and committed right away. What was it that you saw on that visit that made you comfortable?
SMITH: Just the atmosphere. I just fell in love and felt like I could make an impact there. I liked the strength and conditioning coach, the head coach, and everybody. It felt like home.
Q: After you committed, you had some Big 12 schools and others showing interest. What was that like as you had different schools trying to pull you in different directions?
SMITH: I was with Iowa all the way.
Q: Who were the other schools that came in and talked to you?
SMITH: TCU, Texas Tech, and OU.
Q: Did OU offer?
SMITH: No.
Q: But Texas Tech and TCU did at one point right?
SMITH: Yeah.
Q: Was it tough saying no to schools closer to home like that?
SMITH: Yeah, but I've got to do what I've got to do, so not really.
Q: Did your older brother play in junior college in the state of Iowa?
SMITH: Yeah, he played at Ellsworth. It's kind of in the country, but where I'm going is more in the city.
Q: Was that kind of what you expected on your first visit to Iowa City? That it was out in the country?
SMITH: Yeah, I did, but when I got there, it was great. It was like home.
