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HBCU lands former four-star LSU recruit, top JUCO prospect
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- HBCU lands former four-star LSU recruit, top JUCO prospect
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Allen University has secured one of the biggest commitments in program history . Former LSU wide receiver and junior college standout Deion Smith announced his commitment to the Yellow Jackets on his X account, giving Allen a highly touted playmaker ahead of the 2026 season.
Smith becomes one of the marquee additions of head coach Cedric Pearl's tenure as the Yellow Jackets continue building on last season's progress. Coming out of Jackson Academy in Mississippi, Smith was regarded as one of the nation's top receivers in the 2021 recruiting class. The four-star prospect ultimately signed with LSU, where he flashed his potential during his freshman season.
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One of Smith's signature performances came against Central Michigan on Sept. 18, 2021, when he caught five passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns. He finished his lone season with the Tigers with 11 receptions for 186 yards and two touchdowns, showing the explosiveness that made him one of the SEC's top freshman receivers.
Smith's career took an unexpected turn after academic issues ended his time at LSU. He returned to his home state and enrolled at Holmes Community College, where he quickly emerged as one of the nation's top junior college prospects.
During the 2023 season, Smith amassed 1,063 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in just eight games, drawing renewed interest from several FBS programs. He ultimately committed to Ole Miss under Lane Kiffin , but academic eligibility issues once again prevented him from taking the field before the 2024 season.
Now, Smith gets a fresh start at Allen University, where he joins a program that exceeded expectations in 2025. The Yellow Jackets finished 6-5 overall and 5-3 in the SIAC, a significant improvement from their 2-8 campaign the previous season. Pearl's second year at the helm showed the program was moving in the right direction, and the addition of a player with Smith's pedigree provides another boost as Allen looks to continue climbing the conference standings.
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Allen will open the 2026 season on Aug. 29 with a road matchup against Livingstone College.
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