Some Good News as Maealiuaki Smith Comes Out with Commitment to Oklahoma State

STILLWATER – This story was originally written in June just after Maealiuaki Smith completed his official visit to Oklahoma State. It was last updated in our story board on July 1. Since then the belief is that Smiath was pledged to OSU but he had not gone public. On Nov. 12 he has. 

Oklahoma State just landed its top quarterback prospect in the 2024 class. Maealiuaki Smith of San Mateo (Serra) Calf. took to social media to make the announcement official. This may have been one of the longer waits for a commitment to go public. We’ve always heard and observed secret pledges in the recruiting game. Maealiuaki actually committed earlier in the week expressing his pledge to quarterbacks coach Tim Rattay and head coach Mike Gundy, but waited until the weekend to post it.

Smith committed to the Pokes over BYU, Cincinnati, Colorado, Florida State, Kentucky, Miami (Fla.), Michigan State, Missouri, Utah and Washington among others.

Smith checks in at 6-3.5, 205 pounds and is a drop back classic style quarterback with a big arm. He was on campus June 14-16 on his official visit, and he told Pokes Report he wanted to announce his commitment in July. He was supposed to make a visit to BYU, but the Cougars committed another quarterback prior to his visit.

This past season as a senior, Smith has helped Serra to a 11-0 overall record and the top ranking in the CIL Northern California region.  The Padres are 7-0 in district play and set to play Wilcox in a first-round playoff this next Friday. If the Padres beat Wilcox, they will advance to the Open Division state championship game for the third consecutive season, presumably against Mater Dei or St. John Bosco, the two teams that have ended their seasons in recent playoff runs.

This season Smith is 110-of-194 passing for 1,655-yards and 57 percent. He has 19 touchdown passes with only two interceptions and those both came in the same game. He also has five rushing touchdowns this season. Now, those numbers seem small but because of the team success Smith has only played in 20 quarters and some of those with a running clock.

Last season as a junior, Smith helped Serra to a 13-1 overall record and a top-50 national ranking. He had a solid season as he went 166-of-245 for 2,546 yards with 34 touchdowns to just eight interceptions. That’s better than a four-to-one touchdown to interception ratio. 

Smith makes 16th overall commitment for the Pokes in the 2024 class as he joins Caleb Hackleman, Tre Griffiths, Rodney Fields, Josh Ford, Chauncey Johnson, and recent offensive line pledges Semisi Tonga and Nuku Mafi from West High School in Salt Lake City on the offensive side of the ball. On defense are Willie Nelson, Landyn Cleveland, Armstrong Nnodim, Luke Webb, Gunnar Wilson, Temerrick Johnson and David Kabongo.