Auburn football: 3 teams to beat for 4-star OL Kelton Smith

One of the top priorities for Auburn football in recruiting the class of 2023 is adding depth and talent to the offensive line. With most of last season’s starters returning for another year, the focus has shifted to recruiting lineman for next year’s class.

4-star offensive lineman Kelton Smith is one of those players that head coach Bryan Harsin and his staff are trying to get to commit to the orange and blue. The OT is currently listed as the #240 overall recruit and the #11 inside offensive lineman in the recruiting class of 2023 and is the #24 prospect out of the state of Georgia.

Smith is planning to visit three different schools in the SEC over the next month in Auburn, Georgia, and Tennessee, but there’s also an ACC program working its way to the top of Smith’s list. So far, there are three main teams to beat for Kelton Smith.

The first is Smith’s home-state school Georgia. He plans to visit the Dawgs next weekend, and one hardly needs to explain why the OT is considering UGA. Coming off of a national championship win and continuing to pull top-notch recruits to their program, Georgia has a lot to offer for the in-state talent and Auburn football will have to work hard to draw Smith away from the Dawgs.

Next on the list is Tennessee, Smith’s next destination after his trip to UGA. Smith listed the Volunteers as one of the seven programs he’s considering most right now, and a visit could solidify UT as one of the top contenders in his recruitment.

The program that the Tigers will have to work the hardest to draw Smith away from is currently the Florida State Seminoles. The OT visited the campus earlier this month and spoke very highly of the Seminoles’ head coach Mike Norvell. FSU has reportedly built a great relationship with not only Smith but also his family, which is extremely important to the young recruit.

However, Auburn Live reports that Auburn football coaches Will Friend and Joe Bernardi have been keeping in contact with the offensive tackle very regularly, and he’s been on campus twice for a visit and when he camped with the Tigers last summer:

"“I talk and text with both of them,” Smith said. “They are recruiting me pretty hard.”"

While Florida State might currently be the top team to beat for Kelton Smith, Auburn football is not bowing out and is certainly in a good spot with the 4-star lineman, who plans to be on campus for the Tigers’ A-Day game.