SPORTS

Trey Smith, Jimmy Smith's son, chooses U of L

Steve Jones
@stevejones_cj

Madison, Miss., running back/slot receiver Trey Smith, the son of former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jimmy Smith, said Wednesday morning that he has committed to the University of Louisville football team.

Running back Trey Smith and father Jimmy Smith are both very keen on the University of Louisville program and coaching staff.

Smith, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound player for Madison Central High, said he called U of L offensive line coach Chris Klenakis on Tuesday night to deliver the news. Klenakis, his primary recruiter, then passed the phone to head coach Bobby Petrino.

"He just told me they were happy to have me and glad that I made the decision to come there," Smith said. "... I think I fit in good with the offense. The quarterback is a pretty much young guy and going to be there for a while, so he can probably help me out. I just have to go in there and work my butt off and hopefully try to earn a little bit of playing time when I get there.

Smith had been favoring the Cardinals for some time and planned to visit U of L this past weekend for opening game against Miami, but he had to cancel the the trip at the last minute his practice ran late and he missed his flight.

"I was sick I couldn't get there," he said of the Cardinals' 31-13 victory - played during a "blackout" night at Papa John's Cardinals Stadium. "I watched it on TV, and it seemed like there was a lot of excitement and a lot going on. It got me really excited watching those new uniforms, watching the offense work."

Smith, who is rated three stars and the No. 157 running back nationally by Scout.com, also had offers from Mississippi State, Memphis, Louisiana Tech, Arkansas State, Jackson State, Texas State and Troy. He's rated two stars by Rivals.com. He is U of L's 16th commitment in the 2015 class.

His father is formerly one of the top receivers in the NFL. Petrino was a member of the Jaguars' staff, for three years, including one as offensive coordinator, during some Smith's finest seasons. U of L offensive coordinator Garrick McGee was also on the Jags' staff back then.

"The athletes there (at U of L) — and not just my son — are going to succeed because (Petrino's) going to be a good role model for those guys both on and off the field," Jimmy Smith told The Courier-Journal last week. "When he came to Jacksonville, my career was on an incline, but when he got there, my career went through the roof."

Trey Smith said his dad told him picking U of L "was a great opportunity to play for Coach Petrino and Coach McGee" and "just a great fit."

In turn, Smith believes Petrino is happy to have someone with his NFL pedigree join the team.

"It's a plus for me because (Petrino) knows what I'm capable of," Trey Smith said. "He knows I'm going to work hard, and I know what to do when I come up there. I just have to stay focused and not let anything negative cross my path."

Trey Smith, a former high school teammate is U of L freshman offensive lineman Jimmie Terry, is playing quarterback this season for Madison Central, but U of L plans to move him around the backfield and as a receiver.

"I'm just a playmaker; that's what they've been telling me," Smith said. "When the game's going down, I can be the guy to make that big play."