Avoyelles standout Kobe Smith nearly committed to Louisiana (Lafayette) on Saturday during a meeting with coach Michael Desormeaux on his visit to the nearby program.
The self-described shy young man off the field — but eye-catching playmaker on it — instead held off and discussed the decision with his father on what proved to be an emotional hour-long drive back home that only further cemented his intentions to call the Ragin’ Cajuns and announce his pledge this week.
“It’s like 70 miles from my house, and my dad has health problems, so this way he can come to the home games and tailgate in the parking lot,” Smith quickly listed among four major reasons for his commitment. “He’s doing better now. It’s just hard for him to walk long distances. He cried on the way home. He was very excited. My whole family is. And the whole school. Not many kids in my area go D-I.”
The 6-foot-2, 260-pound defensive end is one of the state’s top defensive linemen in his 2027 class and appears to be only beginning to scratch the surface of his potential.
Avoyelles defensive end Kobe Smith said the opportunity to place close to his father and entire family played a big role in his commitment March, 25, 2026, to the home-state Ragin’ Cajuns. (Photo: Courtesy of Kobe Smith)
Smith was an all-district and all-parish selection and all-state nominee as just a sophomore with 50 tackles, including 17 for loss and eight sacks, and improved those numbers across the board this fall with 76 tackles, 17.5 behind the line, 12 sacks, 12 hurries, two deflected passes and two forced fumbles.
And his physical maturation year over year has been even more impressive as he’s traded some baby fat early in his prep career for a more trim and toned but stronger than ever build as a three-sport standout who was a difference-maker for his Mustangs on the basketball court this winter and is now chasing track state championships in the spring.
“My training is my biggest improvement, and my want to be great,” he said. “My coach challenged me to get 20 sacks this season. My dad wants 27 sacks and over 100 tackles. My goal is to get bigger and faster so I can play early (in college).”
Louisiana and McNeese State extended his first college offers back-to-back days in mid-February.
And Smith said he didn’t need any more time or deliberation to know where he wanted to play after Avoyelles.
The Ragin’ Cajuns present not only an opportunity close to home, but a bit of a homecoming opportunity for the athlete who has fond memories of playing multiple years in the Lafayette SwampCats youth organization and feeling the support of the local community.
Avoyelles defensive end Kobe Smith is one of Louisiana’s top 2027 defensive linemen and now the Ragin’ Cajuns’ first in-state commitment in the class. (Photo: Courtesy of Kobe Smith)
In addition to that appreciation for the area and the proximity to his family, Smith said he has felt constantly prioritized by
“They made me feel like they really wanted me to be here,” he said. “Things like that go a long way, man.”
He has also been impressed by the investment into the program’s facilities, including the new updates to Cajun Field.
“It looks 2026,” he said. “Everything you would see in a Power 5, just smaller, but very nice.”
Smith is the second commitment to the Ragin’ Cajuns’ 2027 class and the first in-state addition, joining Shadow Creek (Pearland, Texas) tight end Bryce Coleman, who announced his decision Sunday.
“Coaches see me as a defensive end in their defense,” he said. “The pursuit of the quarterback was what stood out on my tape for them. And the fans will get a hard worker and a player that wants to get better every day.”
