Roquan Smith to Announce Friday: Which Program Is Best Fit for 4-Star?

Lauded Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith is set to reveal his collegiate intentions...again. 

The 4-star prospect, who captured widespread attention by opting not to sign a national letter of intent last week, will announce a decision Friday, per Jake Rowe of 247Sports. Smith is expected to choose between Texas A&M, Michigan, Georgia and UCLA, the same list of finalists he featured entering national signing day.

Smith committed to UCLA during a nationally televised ceremony on ESPN. He seemingly punctuated a nationwide recruitment process by putting on Bruins gloves:

However, his lingering doubts about a final choice became a developing story as Jim Mora's staff waited by the fax machine in Los Angeles. That same day, reports surfaced that UCLA linebackers coach Jeff Ulbrich accepted a job with the Atlanta Falcons.

With Ulbrich on his way to Georgia, Smith no longer felt sure about his decision to leave the Peach State. Those convictions weren't even incredibly strong to start on the morning of signing day.

He explained the mixed emotions during a conversation with Jake Reuse of Rivals: "My heart was with UGA, but my mind was with UCLA and wanting to experience something different. When I got up there, I just chose UCLA on TV. Then, either place I committed, I wasn't going to sign papers then. I said I wanted to get some time back, think, and see how the decision felt within."

Smith, rated fifth nationally among 2015 outside linebackers in 247Sports' composite rankings, admitted Ulbrich's departure touched a nerve: "Coach Ulbrich did say that Coach Dan Quinn (of the Atlanta Falcons) had called him the night before, but he had declined the job offer. I felt like Coach Mora should have hit me up and said there's potential that Coach Ulbrich may be leaving."

Smith, a 6'2", 205-pound prospect from Macon County High School, received an offer from the Bruins before any other program extended a scholarship. UCLA began targeting him as a sophomore and seemed to claim a major cross-country recruiting victory on signing day.

Instead, it appears the Bruins are trending in a negative direction. UCLA now looks to be on the outside looking in as Smith approaches another choice.

"Doing a lot of research, which I should have done earlier in the process and thank goodness I had more time, they don't even have my major," Smith told Reuse. "I was going to major in business, and the only way to get into business school out there is to be in graduate school."

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Given his previous statements, common sense suggests Georgia is the leader heading into Friday.

"He’s 100-percent sold on his next school,” Macon County coach Larry Harold told Michael Carvell of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Wednesday. “He’s in a good place. He has known since about Tuesday. I’m pretty sure that staff knows that he’s coming.”

Bulldogs defensive tackle signee Trent Thompson, the class' top-ranked recruit, attended Smith's ceremony. Despite initial disappointment, he may be on the verge of joining forces with the fellow in-state defender in Athens:

Smith tallied 79 tackles, five sacks and two interceptions in just six games as a senior, per Ethan Levine of SaturdayDownSouth.com.

His play warranted attention long before the developments of this past week, but the spotlight is now shining brighter than ever before.

Whichever school he chooses Friday—and, again, we believe Georgia is a strong lean—this will be the final verdict.

"That's it. I'm shutting it down," Smith told Reuse.

However, his announcement still won't provide the closure we've come to expect from the end of a high-profile prospect recruitment.

Smith will only sign grant-in-aid papers, per Carvell. His national letter of intent will go unsigned, essentially creating "free-agent" status until he officially enrolls on campus this summer.

“He’s not going to sign a letter of intent,” Harold told Carvell. “The reason why is because what he went through last week. This just gives us flexibility in case something else unexpectedly happens again.”

It's an unprecedented situation that could lead others to follow in his footsteps, shifting the recruiting landscape. The long-term effects of this approach will be reviewed for years to come, but for now, the focus shifts to four finalists.

Michigan and Texas A&M may still be fringe contenders, but this pursuit ultimately once again comes down to Georgia and UCLA. This time around, expect Smith to go with his heart and become a Bulldog.

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.