Cam Smith continues to gain recognition, lands on Athlon's preseason All-American team
South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith continues to have as much offseason momentum as anyone on the Gamecock football roster.
Athlon released its preseason All-American teams earlier this week and Smith found himself on the second-team.
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Last month, Smith was the lone Gamecock listed on Athlon’s preseason first-team All-SEC unit.
Also in June, Smith was ranked the top cornerback in the country in the On3 Impact 300.
The On3 Impact 300 ranks the best players in college football entering the 2022 season with the full list set to be announced soon.
Cam Smith finished his redshirt sophomore season with three interceptions, but he had a far bigger impact than those numbers would suggest. He allowed only 15 catches on 32 targets, leading the Gamecocks with 14 passes defended. His current NIL valuation is a whopping $546,000, good for No. 46 on the NIL 100 ranking.
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It’s been a productive offseason for Smith in terms of building draft attention as he enters his redshirt junior season with the South Carolina football program and perhaps no one in the program has seen his stock go up more than Smith’s.
When ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper released an updated Top 25 big board in May, Smith checked in as the No. 20 overall player on the list.
The Westwood High graduate from Blythewood, S.C. trailed only Alabama cornerback Eli Ricks among defensive backs with Ricks checking in at No. 8.
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Smith, who has five career interceptions, is considered the second-best returning cornerback in college football for 2022, according to Pro Football Focus.
For most of his South Carolina career to this point, Smith has played cornerback, playing in 11 games and starting seven last season.
The 6-foot, 185-pounder could get the chance to show off his versality this season. For most of the spring, Smith worked — and excelled — at the nickelback spot allowing Carolina to get him on the field with both Darius Rush and Marcellas Dial.
The Gamecocks, under second-year head coach Shane Beamer, will open the 2022 season at home on Saturday, Sept. 3, when they host the Georgia State Panthers. Game time has been set for 7:30 pm ET and the contest will be streamed live on ESPN+/SECN+.
