Happy Thanksgiving for in-state prospect

Gaffney (S.C.) class of 2018 wide receiver Dennis Smith has plenty to be thankful for today as the 6-foot-2, 190-pounder landed his first Power 5 offer, from South Carolina, on Wednesday.

"It was definitely a surprise, definitely," Smith said. "I still can't even believe it, to be honest. It was big. I couldn't ask for a better Thanksgiving."

Smith is already very familiar with the program due to friendships with current players like Deebo Samuel, Jake Bentley and Rico Dowdle.

He took a closer look at he school when he visited for the Gamecocks' win over Tennessee.

"I just like that it's a family atmosphere there," Smith said. "I know a lot of people on the team already and I just like how they handle things as a school and as a team. It's a great campus as well, awesome facilities."

Smith is being recruited by running backs coach Bobby Bentley.

"It's a good relationship," Smith said. "We're still building it, but he's a great guy. I can tell already that he's a good person with a good heart. I was very aware of Coach Bentley (when he was at Byrnes)."

Smith also holds an offer from Old Dominion and is hearing from Duke, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, N.C. State and Maryland.

"First is my education, that's big in my household with me and my mom," he says of his decision-making process. "How I fit into the offense and how that I will play out and my relationship with the people around me. That's really what I'm focused on is the books and my relationship with the players and coaches."