Rumors began swirling in late February that DaMarcus Smith, the Louisville native who reneged on a verbal commitment to his hometown school, was having second thoughts about inking a Letter of Intent with UCF two days after National Signing Day. Head coach George O’Leary attempted to throw cold water on the speculation, saying earlier this month that the touted quarterback is “100 percent a Knight.”
Unfortunately for O’Leary, and if Smith gets his way, Smith is 100 percent not a Knight.
In a statement sent to the Louisville Courier-Journal, Smith confirmed rumors of his decision, telling the paper in a release that he’s asked to be let out of his UCF scholarship.
“Today I have filed a release request with the University of Central Florida, asking to be released from my national letter-of-intent I signed in February, due to extenuating circumstances,” Smith said in the statement.
""I send my apologies to the University of Louisville and the University of Central Florida for this issue. And I would also like to apologize to the Louisville fans and community who have supported me since the day I originally committed to the Cardinal family.”
UCF has yet to respond publicly to the request. A school official declined to answer whether Smith has been granted his release, or if he will be granted a release at some point in the near future.
While the release does not expressly state it, Smith will likely be headed back to his home state and will play for the Cardinals in 2011. As he has yet to attend any classes at UCF, he would be eligible to play immediately if given a release by UCF.
Smith was the No. 11 dual-threat QB in the Class of 2011 according to Rivals.com. He was the No. 2 player in the state of Kentucky as well.