Though his father, Jeff, was once a standout tight end at the University of Tennessee, Maryville High School defensive lineman Justin Smith never felt he had a lofty bar to reach.
"He's never pressured any of his kids to follow his footsteps," said Justin Smith, a 6-foot, 220-pound senior. "As long as we're happy and successful, he's happy.
"That made me feel great. I could just go out there and have fun and enjoy the game. You don't want it to be work. You want it to be fun, get to the quarterback and make the tackle."
Smith did that with regularity, and, with his pressure-free outlook, he earned a scholarship to Virginia Military Institute. He committed to the program Monday, forgoing offers from Air Force and Elon.
The Class 4A Mr. Football (lineman) Award winner made 91 tackles and 13 sacks this past season while leading Maryville (14-1) to a state runner-up finish.
He said VMI coach Sparky Woods, a former Alabama assistant and Carson-Newman graduate, and brother Don Woods, the defensive line coach and former Morristown West coach, gave indications he could garner early playing time.
VMI plays a three-man defensive front, and Don Woods plays six or seven lineman, Smith said.
Maryville coach George Quarles said Smith will play as a freshman.
"No question about it," he said. "I'm excited to see what he does with this opportunity. He's very gifted and very talented. The reason bigger schools didn't take him was because he's an inch or two shorter than they would have liked.
"VMI is getting a great player. They're getting a steal. I think he's going to prove some people wrong."
VMI, of the Big South Conference, was 4-7 (1-4 Big South) last season. Opponents averaged 33.5 points and 438.3 yards per game. Smith hopes to remedy that.
"I'm definitely going to work hard and see how I fit into their defense and try to carry over what I did in high school to VMI," he said. "I want to help in any way I can."
Smith said he won't be required to enlist into one of the four military branches when his time at VMI ends. This summer, he will have to go through a "hell week" - a nine-day "shorter version of basic training" before football camp starts.
"Justin is tough enough and mentally tough enough to handle it," said Quarles. "It's all mental, the games they play trying to break you. He's tough enough to handle that. You have to expect the worse going into it. I think he can handle it."
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Comments » 26
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Good luck, young man.
marinevol writes:
Good luck! Hope you're prepared for the strict military discipline at VMI, it is a different kind of education. I, personally, would not want to combine my military and college experiences, although I would not take anything for either.
marinevol writes:
Very few high school players (including me a few years ago) are good enough to be recruited by UT or VMI. He should be very proud, I'm sure his parents are.
bleedorangeinlaw writes:
hey buddy let me know when you are named Mr. Football? Until then don't rag on these kids. "orangeluvr" haha what a joke man
letshave1more writes:
Go away!
tnvol27#546179 writes:
What a classless thing to say. Here is a young man getting the chance to further his education and play a college sport and you say something like that. I can only imagine your scholastic achievements as well as sporting acomplishments. You would do us all a favor and never post here again.
mpm80#1357758 writes:
i wonder if orangeluvr or his kid could make it on a bush league team? BAM!!!!
marinevol writes:
Rivals.com has already come out with their pre-season top 25. 5 SEC teams in the top 18, but UT didn't make the list. Don't think we're going to be overrated this year. Just hope we can surprise some people.
http://collegefootball.rivals.com/con...
wtvol writes:
Not cute!
VolJoe writes:
I wish him the best, and so should every other Big Orange fan.
blitzshoot writes:
All parties should be happy with this. Good luck Mr. Smith and congrats to VMI.
westennvol writes:
you try and play at a military academy. you probably didn't even play high school football, jerk! What is wrong with people like you?
blitzshoot writes:
I hope your name is for Syracuse orange and not Tennessee. You obviously
made it to the NFL Hall of Fame.Sure.
DroopyDrawers writes:
Orangeluvr is inducted to the Hall of Shame!
txsvol#372416 writes:
I don't usually like to pile on, but in this case, Roger Hamock, if that is really your name, YOU ARE A FIRST CLASS JERK! SAVol
tnvol27#546179 writes:
wtf is that phooey put on our site? Take your bull**** articles and post them on fla sites. Are you an idiot? Do you have any formal education? Friggin mental midget.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
prob didnt graduate high school-----new no class idiots show up daily round here
tnvol27#546179 writes:
Your response to our attack tells me you didnt mean it like most of us took it...so I do not hold a grudge. Welcome back orange...I played with snuffy (Jeff Smith) Your comment was close to home...no worries...you are forgiven. Its those gators a**holes I cant stand.
lburgvol writes:
The Bammers and the Gators are geting worried ! Its showing on the Bammer sites big time ! I love it !!!
Go Vols !
gnm53108 writes:
Good luck Justin.
And remember,all the military type bs they put you through is just a game.Keep that in your head as you keep your eye on the finish line.
txsvol#372416 writes:
Roger, from time to time we all say unkind things. This young man's father played well for us, and just because he happened to be a few inches to short, and maybe not quite skilled enough, to play in D-l ball doesn't make him a loser. He'll more than earn his way at VMI, which produces classy young men. And, I'm betting that he'll be a Volunteer to the core the rest of his life. It's sometimes a hard decision whether to walk on, like the Reveiz kid did, and Bobby Scott's son did, and hopefully earn playing time and a scholarship, vs go to the VMI's (and Chattanooga's) of the world, where there's a better chance of playing time. Peace! SAVol
pdhuff#552644 writes:
RR- that post qualifies you for the understatement of the year competition. LOL
Go4Two writes:
Adrian Rucker played running back at Georiga Tech.
blitzshoot writes:
Hey man, misunderstood your post last night. I apologize.
Go Vols!
Volgrad777 writes:
Sounds like a good kid. Hope he understands what hes getting into. As a VMI grad , my brother a VMI grad and my father a VMI grad , whom all played sports , its not nearly as easy as Quarles makes it out to be. Lot of mental attacks , but there is also a ton of physical attacks as well. Great school , great history , and they will teach him how to be a man thats a certainty. However , its NOT a fun place to be. Not a normal college experience. Athletics helps. I would rec going to VMI to any kid these days. They just really have to want it, it will be twice as hard as anything hes ever done. But this kid sounds like a winner and if someone could do it , sounds like him.
UT37916 writes:
Did you think that he wanted a quality education.
No - I'm sure you didn't because you never received one,
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