UCLA currently has one member of their 2026 recruiting class verbally committed, and that's SoCal product Jonah Smith out of Santa Margarita Catholic (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA).
The 6-foot, 170-pound pass catcher spent his sophomore season at national powerhouse Mater Dei High School, but he's been on the radar of local scouts for some time. According to Greg Biggins of 247 Sports, Smith has stood out amongst his peers since his middle school days.
"Smith is one of the more polished young receivers in the region, regardless of class. We’ve been watching him since he was still in Middle School and he has always had an advanced feel for route running and how to get open... He’s very smooth athletically, fluid in his movement, and has excellent body control. He’s a high football IQ player who knows how to get open, when to sit or settle in a zone, and reads players very well." wrote Biggins earlier this month.
Smith committed to UCLA just days after the Bruins offered him earlier this month. He still has his junior and senior seasons ahead of him, so even with two more years for him to prep for college ball, Smith is uniquely positioned to step into a college roster and contribute sooner rather than later due to his understanding of the game. Let's take a look at his film to better understand what set him apart from his peers, even at a program like Mater Dei.
Smith looks to have a great understanding of route concepts as a whole, not just the routes he's supposed to run, and it's evident in the second play of his highlight tape. Not only is he pressing the cornerback to threaten the inside move, but he's simultaneously helping his slot counterpart get open.
In the CIF State Championship game, Smith showed he can run more unconventional routes as well. Check out minutes 0:33-0:40; Where Smith faked a block and advanced to the soft spot in the defensive secondary, taking the reception to the house through a ton of traffic.
Smith shined at both outside receiver and out of the slot during his sophomore season at Mater Dei, a feat in and of itself given the amount of talent that program has in their stable. He passed up on offers from Notre Dame, Georgia, Washington, Utah, and Michigan before committing to UCLA just days after receiving his offer.
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