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From Marshall News Messenger

I wanna be like MIKE

Justin Smart wants to be like MIKE.

A middle linebacker, that is.

And the senior member of the Marshall High School's back-to-back state finalist football team will get his chance soon enough after signing, on Tuesday, a four-year, full-ride letter of intent to play for Southern Methodist University.

It will be a whole new world for Smart, who has been playing under head coach Rodney Southern for his entire high school career, but Smart said he thinks he's up to the challenge.

"I can pretty much adapt to anything," Smart said. "It just takes time, sometimes, to get used to new routines, plays and calls, but I'll definitely be able to handle it."

Southern agrees, noting that the 6-foot 3-inch, 220-pound defensive menace would be valuable to SMU in a number of positions.

"They're going to work and look at him initially as an inside linebacker, but like I told them, I think there's three or four things that he can do; I think he can play tight end, I think he can deep snap," Southern said. "So I think they're getting a player that's going to be able to do multiple things."

Smart finished in the top three for total tackles this past season with 60 solo and 29 assists as well as nine tackles for a loss. He chalked up five sacks and 17 hurries and caused two fumbles and made a pair of recoveries. He broke up two passes and caught two interceptions as well.

"I know how hard he's worked and he's going to be a guy that's definitely be of benefit for their program," Southern said.

Smart, however, attributes his time in Southern's program for his past and future successes, noting that he's been well-prepared for winning at the college level.

"Being in a great program like this, you always have coaches pushing you to do your best and you know what they expect of you," Smart said. "When the expectations are high, you pretty much don't have any choice but to excel."

And expectations couldn't have gotten much higher for Smart than this past season, coming off the squad's first of two consecutive trips to the Class 4A state championships.

"Coach Southern told us at the beginning of the season that he expects the defense to carry the team," Smart said, adding that the winning mindset will help him in his future endeavors.

But while Smart's short term focus is on playing at SMU, his long-term goal is playing football on the professional level. Coming from a family of Cowboy's fans, Smart said he'd like to play for the 'Boys himself, but also knows his time at SMU will prepare him for a Plan B, if necessary.

"I want to have a football career for as long as I can," Smart said. "But you always have to have a back up plan.

"It's funny because I always used to change what I wanted to do," Smart said. "One day I'd want to be a doctor, and a couple days later I'd want to be a dentist. But honestly I think I'm going to end up doing something in sports."

Smart said he'd like to be a strength and conditioning trainer but for now, "I'm just going to concentrate on getting my basic (classes) done," he said.

YES!!!!

I asked about the possibility of this back earlier this year!!!!
I saw his uncle at my youngest son's tee-ball game (small town...what can I say?). He was seriously considering SMU, but his family, particularly his uncle, was concerned about the difference of lifestyle in UP/HP vs. Marshall (big difference...we have a whole lot more poverty). I told him that I made the transition well enough to SMU, UP after school, Preston Hollow, and Orange County, CA, and back again. I told him that Justin would get a premium education, the opportunity to play for a good program with great prospects, and make unique friends that would allow him to see a slice of life not many here in Marshall get to see.

Bottom line: this is his ticket out, whether he knows it or not. To an eighteen year old boy, that should be a ticket made of gold. When one is my age, it is okay to affirmatively decide to move back. When one is his age and from around here, one winds up usually drinking from the firehose of life. He needs to drink from the fine wine collection and take it all in.

And for you HP guys, Justin is NOT the guy who got tossed from the game. He is a great guy who now has the chance of a lifetime. I am definitely going to look him up and remind him!!!!

Honk Honk Again.

What is this two in a week.

Nice size for LB and good weight for a young'in.

Let's get some more.

Per Rivals (and who knows how old this information is):
40-yard dash: 4.6 seconds
Bench max: 305 pounds

Love the size on this guy! Hope he's as good on the field as he is on paper.
Guru - have you seen this guy?

Found a picture (thanks to Google):

http://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/bl ... nsmart.jpg

Interesting that his coach says he could play tight end (what would that be -- seven TEs?) and deep snap .... another backup for Jackson Taylor and Sam Bennett.

I saw him play in every home game and all of the playoff games except the state final vs. HP. He is tough, mentally alert, and a leader (Defensive Captain type player). He could play offense and did so in short yardage situations (TE). But Marshall ran a Utah spread 99% of the time...basically a double-wing w/ WRs and a setback instead of the WBs, TEs, & fullback. The TE comment is Coach Southern talking, and though it may say something about versatility, I highly doubt that would be his role. LB all the way. Physically, he is definitely a specimen. However, he was not the biggest guy on the field most of the time. It was how he played that was the difference. He was intimidating in his play. Yeah, he isn't particularly small, but in the 3-3-5 defense, he was consistently playing off an offensive tackle or tight end who was at least his size and most of the time significantly bigger. That is a lot of practice against bigger guys. He does have some speed, at least in short bursts. He would drop into coverage on occasion and could hang with most inside routes. He delivered at least one withering hit that I recall on an inside curl. Rang the guy's bell but good. And I recall at least two QBs spending some time on the sideline (Henderson's & Pine Tree's...although the latter isn't saying much) because they got caught in a frontside blitz and didn't gauge his speed well enough.

He graduates tomorrow, so he is either a grayshirt or the team had another spot open up.

Rivals information is at least from November...that is when I looked him up and found his bonafides....

Welcome to SMU Justin!

2005 First Team All State LB by Texas Sports Writers Association. First Team All Region LB by Texas High School 4A Football. Selected to the Texas High School Coaches Association South squad for the annual All-State. I'm not sure about other schools recruiting him although I found a Colorado St site that said he had interest in CSU, SMU, Tech and OSU. I'm a little surprised because I thought the signing period was over until August 1-has there been a change in the signing periods? I did find one reference on a Marshall site concerning the reason he didn't sign in February. Poster said there were undisclosed extenuating circumstances that his family and coaches would be working on. Sounds like he was waiting on a final school grade since he signed around graduation day.

I could swear I remember reading about Smart getting a scholarship offer early (last fall) from Texas Tech. Can anyone verify that? Or am I mixing him up with someone else?

It seems that Phil is really beginning to recruit better. The players we have gotten so far have offers from BCS programs. Those wins at the end of last year have really helped.

Stallion, please do not ruin this positive feeling by posting about how UT or TCU has done better so far.

seems like? I haven't heard anybody say he was offered by anyone else.

Corso wrote:I could swear I remember reading about Smart getting a scholarship offer early (last fall) from Texas Tech. Can anyone verify that? Or am I mixing him up with someone else?

I thought I remembered that, too, but I can't find it anywhere. I'll keep looking.

David Smoak- the Dave Cambell of East Texas had Smart going to Utah-however he didn't make the East Texas Top 30. He did however make the Smoaky.com 3rd Team All-East Texas team at LB.

SMU has liked Smart for a long time, since early in his junior season. I can only imagine how excited the coaches are to have him. And if this Smoak guy had Smart going to Utah, he does sound like the Dave Campbell of East Texas -- sounds like neither one does much research before publishing anything.