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21 hours ago
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For athletes aiming to play at the collegiate level or go pro, sitting out even one practice is frustrating.
One class of 2026 football recruit might know the feeling better than anyone: the three-star wide receiver is set to miss his third high school season due to injury.
Jonah Smith had a breakout sophomore season after spending the majority of his freshman year hurt. Then, a broken tibia sidelined the wide receiver in 2024. Just when it seemed like it couldn’t get worse for the UCLA football commit, he was ruled out for his senior season with a knee injury.
If you’re doing the math, Smith has played one full high school football season.
“As good as Smith is, and as well as he sees the game, the Bruins can’t pencil him in as a foundational piece of the 2026 class,” Sports Illustrated UCLA reporter Greg Liodice wrote Monday.
Liodice is right — it’s hard to develop a player who can’t physically play. But the wide receiver was on scouts’ radars long before his sophomore year success.
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“Smith is one of the more polished young receivers in the region, regardless of class,” 247Sports national recruiting analyst Greg Biggins wrote. “We’ve been watching him since he was still in Middle School and he has always had an advanced feel for route running and how to get open.”
Physically, Smith stands at 6 feet and was 175 pounds before his injuries. The receiver plays with strong hands and can hang onto the ball. Liodice recommended Smith improve his “explosiveness as an athlete” ahead of his NCAA career, but injuries have made that difficult. Still, Smith’s play style and knowledge of the game are impressive.
“He’s very smooth athletically, fluid in his movement and has excellent body control,” Liodice wrote. “He’s a high football IQ player who knows how to get open, when to sit or settle in a zone and reads players very well.”
Smith is one of 23 hard commits in DeShaun Foster’s 2026 UCLA recruiting class, ranked No. 21 by 247Sports.
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