Four-star 2025 defensive end Jared Smith is transferring from Spain Park to rival and four-time reigning Class 7A champ Thompson this week, according to Spain Park head football coach Tim Vakakes.

The 6-foot-6, 230-pound Smith, who also plays basketball, participated in the Jaguars’ 50-29 upset of Hewitt-Trussville on Friday night. Vakakes told AL.com that Smith’s mom told him Sunday night they were leaving for Thompson.

A Spain Park official confirmed Monday afternoon that Smith had withdrawn from that school.

“This is probably the third time that I’ve heard that he might be going to Thompson over the last couple of years, but I didn’t hear anything official,” Vakakes said. “I got a call from somebody in the community Saturday, saying they heard. So, I reached out to Mom and him and said, ‘you know, this is what I’m hearing so let me know. And they said we’ll meet about it Sunday.’

“I said ‘alright, let me know’ and then Jared sends me a text Saturday night saying, ‘Coach, I ain’t going nowhere and I want to help Spain Park get a ring and all that, do it the right way.’ And then Sunday, he wasn’t at workouts, and we reached out and they were in a moving truck, moving van, moving there and moving their belongings. So, we just found out about it Sunday.”

According to AHSAA rules, a student-athlete is eligible at a different school two days after making a compliant bonafide move and if all other eligibility requirements are met.

Spain Park plays at Oak Mountain on Friday and then hosts Pelham in the regular-season finale on Nov. 2. No. 2-ranked Thompson, which has already won the Region 3 title, finishes the regular season at rival Hoover on Friday. Thompson defeated Spain Park 55-14 on Sept. 15.

Thompson coach Mark Freeman told AL.com on Monday morning that he had no knowledge of Smith possibly transferring to his school.

“I don’t know him. I don’t know his parents. It’s news to me,” he said.

Officials at Thompson said Monday afternoon that Smith had not yet enrolled there. Vakakes said he spoke to Freeman on Monday morning.

“This I can say with certainty that Mark Freeman himself had nothing to do with it,” he said. “I will go on record saying that because Mark Freeman knows me and, like I just told him this morning, If I get something on Thompson, that something was done illegally, everybody’s going know about it. He knows me so I do not think Mark Freeman had anything to do with it.”

Smith is currently the sixth-ranked junior prospect in the state of Alabama, according to the 247 composite rankings. His long list of offers includes Alabama, Auburn, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami and Michigan.

He helped the Spain Park basketball team to the Class 7A final four a year ago.

“Look, here’s the deal. At the end of the day, I deal with facts, and I don’t deal with the rumors, I don’t deal with hearsay,” Vakakes said. “I told (Jared) and his momma when I first met him, he’s going to be an All-American and he might be an all American before he actually deserves. I’ve been blessed to have four All-Americans previously that played for me in our in our program, and he has all the tools.

“A fact, he was an All-American here at Spain Park. He was getting a lot of exposure. We treat our kids here like men. We hold them accountable. That’s a fact. We support our kids academically, emotionally, any way they need. That’s a fact. Our program is on the upswing. That’s a fact. We are playing in the biggest stage on a week-to-week basis in the state of Alabama against the biggest competition. It’s not about moving to a big school for exposure. That’s a fact.”

Vakakes said there is nothing he would have done different when it came to Smith’s time at Spain Park.

“We love him. I love his momma. I love his little sister,” he said. “They are good people, and I wish him the best. But, like I’ve told him and like I’ve told everybody, the day his production and his work ethic match up with his potential, he is going to be a generational millionaire.”

Vakakes said he realizes that leaving one school in Week 9 of a season is not a particularly good look, but he didn’t criticize Smith’s decision.

“I’ve had three college coaches reach out to me in the last 24 hours asking me about it, but I will absolutely will not say a bad word about Jared or his mom,” he said. “They are good people, and I wish them the absolute best. I hope they win every game, but the only game we play them next year I hope they don’t win but, hope they win every other game. I wish them the best.”

This post will be updated