As a widely touted five-star recruit coming out of high school, Saivion Smith choosing LSU as his destination school was not much of a surprise. The Tigers’ resume for high-profile defensive backs speaks for itself through Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu, Jalen Adams, and the like. What Smith did not foresee was the lack of immediate playing time, and that combined with the coaching changes was likely a bit too much for him.
So, he spent a season at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. After the year was up, his recruiting rank had shot back up, making him one of the top JUCO prospects in the country.