Trey Smith knows he has a big target on his back. He experienced it all last football season as a junior offensive lineman at University School of Jackson and getting the best game out of everyone he faced on the line.
That target grew even more on Wednesday when ESPN released their top 300 prospects for the 2017 signing class, and Smith was the man at the top of that list.
"They called my dad on Sunday to let us know this was coming out and to set up an interview," Smith said. "I was playing video games, and my dad stuck his head into the room and told me I was going to be No. 1 on ESPN.
"At the time, I just said OK and kept playing. Then a few hours later I was going to bed and it hit me. I was like 'Oh man, this is getting big.'"
This process of being recruited has been getting bigger than he imagined in the past year or so.
He's entertained visits and calls with notable names as Alabama head coach Nick Saban, Tennessee head coach Butch Jones, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney and Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer.
"When I got invited to the Nike Elite Camp last year, that's when I figured out this was going to be more than I thought," Smith said. "There were three of us who were going into our junior year as offensive linemen, and they'd invited three junior linemen before that total.
"So it's cool to think this is apparently a good year for linemen, and I'm a part of that."
At 6-feet-6-inches and 302 pounds, Smith is a big part of that. He's about to finish his junior year of school with a 3.6 grade-point average and a plan to major in sports management or marketing when he gets to college, which he has no idea where that will be yet. But he does know when.
"I'll narrow my top schools down in July, and then I'll announce my commitment in December," Smith said. "And I plan to enroll in January wherever that will be."
Smith said the decision to enroll early is an easy one for him.
"I'm able to get a head start on my college career and get a few extra months of coaching and working in their system," Smith said.
USJ athletic director Jody Evans confirmed Smith has the credits to graduate early.
First-year USJ football coach Rusty Bradley said he's never met a young man with the humility Smith has.
"Trey has every reason in the world to be proud of what he's done and his recognition, but he's the most mature young man I've ever been around," Bradley said. "He stays grounded and doesn't get full of himself.
"He's a great teammate and leader and great to have on our team."
Bradley said he's as impressed as most college scouts with Smith's footwork.
"He's athletic, and that's great to have along with that size," Bradley said. "That combination along with his maturity and ability to really learn the mental part of the game makes him worthy of the distinction he got today."
Brandon Shields, 425-9751
