3-star UCLA commit reflects on his recovery journey with a touching post (image credit: Jonah Smith/Instagram)

"This not an L, this a lesson": 3-star UCLA commit reflects on his recovery journey with a touching post

Modified Nov 24, 2024 13:29 GMT

UCLA commit Jonah Smith, a three-star recruit from Santa Margarita Catholic High School, has posted an emotional message for his fans. The 5-foot-10 wide receiver from the Class of 2026 is ranked No. 35 in California by On3 and has been overcoming some adversity this year.

Back in June, Smith broke a tibia bone and his return timeline was unclear. He had surgery on his shin and since then, has been recovering. He was able to remove the protective boot in August and flash forward to now, things are looking up.

On Saturday, he penned an emotional post on Instagram.

"Less than six weeks ago I couldnt even complete the warmup, this not an L, this a lesson and a story to tell, forever grateful. †"

Jonah Smith credits coach DeShaun Foster as the reason he committed to UCLA

Jonah Smith hails from Irvine and committed to the Bruins in March this year. In an interview with On3, Smith talked about his decision:

"I committed to UCLA now because of coach Foster. Another big part was the education and the location. That's something I can't pass on. I see UCLA as a school that is about to be trending," he said.

On3 ranks Smith as the WR48 and No. 326 recruit nationally. Smith further revealed his excitement about being mentored by new head coach DeShaun Foster:

"I met with coach Foster for about 30 minutes, and he was so calm. He was cool when we talked. Then, as a coach, he has so much energy. I saw him on the field and he has a new attitude with a lot of energy. He has the attitude to change things at UCLA and I like him a lot. He is going to change how people look at and think of UCLA."

Smith had received 21 offers from different universities, including Texas, Colorado, and Notre Dame, but chose to go with the Bruins. The young athlete had met multiple UCLA coaches, including Jerry Neuheisel, Erik Frazier, and Eric Bieniemy. Smith had lots of praise for Frazier in particular:

"Coach Frazier is a great coach. He is very confident in what he is saying and I know he can get me developed. He is about the technique, he is about the details and he is a great teacher. I am excited to learn from him."

As evident, Jonah Smith is excited to join the Bruins, as strong as ever and ready for new opportunities.