This weekend, a Top247 offensive tackle from Alabama who received an offer from the Vols during his junior season, is expected to visit Tennessee.
Carde Smith, who received a scholarship offer from Tennessee during his junior year, is prepared to examine the Vols more closely this weekend. The Williamson High School offensive lineman, rated as a four-star prospect for the Class of 2025, posted on his X account on Thursday, announcing that he will be visiting Tennessee on Saturday for the school’s first junior day.
In the post confirming his weekend travel plans, Smith—a Top247 prospect according to 247Sports’ rankings—tagged Max Thurmond, a senior offensive analyst for Tennessee, Glen Elarbee, an offensive line coach, Vols recruiting intern Evan Davis, Kelsey Pope, the wide receivers coach, and offensive scouting coordinator Mack Scanlon. Having joined the growing list of teams chasing him over three months ago, this will be his first trip to Tennessee.
Smith wrote, “This Saturday, I’ll be at Tennessee.”
On October 16, the 6-foot-5, 285-pound Smith received a scholarship offer from Tennessee. Currently, he has offers from over ten universities, including Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, Auburn, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State.
According to 247Sports, he is the No. 21 offensive tackle in the 2025 class, the No. 15 junior from Alabama, and the No. 213 overall prospect. In the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, he is rated as a four-star prospect as well as the No. 220 overall player, No. 19 offensive tackle in the 2025 class, and No. 13 junior from Alabama.
Smith admitted to Christian Clemente of 247Sports in November that while he had always liked Alabama, he had “fallen in love with Auburn” as soon as he “got to high school.” In June, he went to one of the Tigers’ camps; in September, he received an offer from them; and in 2023, he paid them several visits. Smith informed Clemente at the time that Tennessee and Auburn were among his “top two.”
Smith “flashes drive-blocking conviction and block-finishing ability,” according to 247Sports scouting analyst Gabe Brooks, who examined the player more closely this fall. Brooks wrote this in November.
Brooks wrote at the time about Smith, saying, “One of the first things noticeable about the Mobile (Ala.) Williamson standout is encouraging hand placement consistency.” “From what we’ve seen so far, he’s good at both pass protection and the run game with a higher floor. Smith shows drive-blocking conviction and block-finishing ability, but he still needs to work on keeping his feet moving quickly when making contact.
“We need confirmed measurements for Smith, but he appears to wear his mass well and is listed in several locations in the 6-5, 300 neighborhood. Smith appears to have tools, even though his hands appear to be ahead of his feet.”
Brooks wrote that Smith “assembled some solid tape this fall” at the beginning of November. Williamson “got competent efforts from (Smith) on the ground and in pass (protection),” Brooks continued at the time.
