Florida Safety Transfer Gregory Smith Commits to the Tar Heels

Florida safety transfer Gregory Smith has committed to North Carolina, he announced on Wednesday.

Smith, a 6-foot-3, 211-pounder, officially visited Chapel Hill last week. He visited Miami two weeks ago and Purdue earlier this week.

As a true freshman this past fall, Smith appeared in five games for the Gators, logging five tackles and one pass breakup, and earning the team's Most Improved Freshman award. He totaled 100 snaps on defense, per Pro Football Focus.

"I've actually seen a lot of growth from Greg, especially not playing as much in his freshman year as he probably wanted to," Florida's junior starting safety Bryce Thornton said during Florida's spring practice. "But this year, he's taken a step. He's out there making calls for everybody. So I'm really proud of him for what he's done and showed the maturity to be a better player."

Since he qualified for a redshirt for the 2024 season, Smith has four seasons of eligibility.

Smith announced intentions to transfer last month, but he didn't enter the Transfer Portal until a few days after the Spring Window opened.

D'antre Robinson, Smith's former teammate on the Florida defense, committed to UNC two weekends back. The Tar Heels now have secured 14 transfer commitments in the last month. Smith is the second defensive back, joining UCLA's Khristian Dunbar-Hawkins.

"I've got to make this team look like a Southeast Conference team," UNC GM Michael Lombardi said earlier this week on ACC PM. "We need a roster conducive to building a big, fast, physical football team."

At Riverview (Fla.) Sumner High, Smith starred at quarterback and defensive back. The 247Sports Composite rated him a four-star recruit and ranked him as the No. 320 prospect and No. 13 athlete in the nation. It also ranked him as the No. 42 recruit in the Sunshine State.

Andrew Ivins, 247Sports' Director of Scouting: "Big-framed athlete with huge developmental upside as a back-seven defender after playing mostly quarterback his first three years of high school. Measured roughly 6-foot-3.5, 190 pounds with a near 6-foot-9 wingspan spring before senior season. Is still learning how to be a defensive back, but has true sideline to sideline range with his straight-line speed and has shown plenty of physicality on tape. Looks to be most comfortable when he's working over the top as he hustles to the catch point or to the ball carrier. Must keep improving technique and cut down on the miscues, but could be well worth the wait for someone, given how he moves and accelerates for someone his size. Projects as a safety at the next level, but could settle in as more of a box player, depending on how the body matures over the next few years. Likely will need a redshirt year or two before he's ready to go, but rare athletic profile (reported a track and field offer from Army) could eventually have him playing on Sundays."

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