Derrick Smith announced on Twitter that he will be attending the University of Illinois. This is a huge transfer pickup for the Orange and Blue and one that will pay dividends in the near future.
Coming out of Trinity Christian Academy in Orange Park, Florida, Smith was a 6-foot-3, 190-pound safety. He was rated as a three-star recruit who was the No. 840 player in the class of 2017 and the No. 110 player in the state of Florida.
The Miami Hurricanes were the lucky recipient of this talented defensive back. Smith committed to Miami over a variety of other programs which included Mississippi State, North Carolina, Utah and Virginia Tech.