Armwood LB Smith chooses Alabama

When Petey Smith's family visits older brother Eric at Auburn, the car sometimes stops in a small town.

The family once noticed a sign for sale that read, "House Divided." It featured logos for Auburn and Alabama. The family had a good laugh realizing the obvious.

Petey has spent the better part of his life trying to create an identity. His mother, Lakisa, said they've joked about Petey and Eric one day meeting on the field during the Iron Bowl.

"He is an extremely independent person," Lakisa said of Petey last week. "He takes his own path."

Those thoughts should become reality after Petey Smith orally committed to Alabama on Tuesday after an in-home visit from Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban. The 6-foot-1, 240-pound linebacker also considered Auburn and Tennessee, and recently got a visit from Southern California coach Pete Carroll.

"Really, me and Coach Saban just talked," Petey said. "I just felt like Alabama was the school for me."

Smith collected 79 tackles for a defensive unit considered among the best in Florida. The Hawks pitched six shutouts and finished 12-1 with a Class 4A region final berth.

The Smith family welcomed Saban into their home Tuesday to talk about last week's visit to Tennessee and how he would fit into Alabama's defense.

Alabama became a front-runner because Petey felt there was a trust factor.

"I just love that Coach Saban and (assistant Jim McElwain) never lied to me (during the recruiting process)," Petey said. "They stayed loyal. The whole time they were recruiting me they were honest about everything."

And of course, there's always the chance to meet Eric in the Iron Bowl head-to-head.

"I think it would be fun," Petey said. "It will be bittersweet. We're two brothers playing against each other. The best outcome will come out. We'll always be on the same team. But I never got to hit him in a game."

Now it appears he will get that chance.