Michigan, Tennessee recruit Smith wants state recognition

Related Content Palm Beach No. 8 Recruit LARRY BLUSTEIN'S COMMENTS: When Antone Smith left for FSU a few years back, this gifted back, just a freshman at the time, showed how impressive he was. This season, he has finally arrived as a hard-running football talent who is searching for a fourth state championship. Schools such as Michigan, Clemson, Illinois, Rutgers and USF have watched enough of him to appreciate his skills.

Michigan's offer: Check.

Tennessee's: Check.

University of Miami, Florida, Florida State: Well, not so fast.

It seems not every big-time school is interested in small-but-productive Pahokee running back Vincent Smith. Particularly those in his home state.

''Because I'm from Florida, all the schools from Florida I've been [a big fan of] since I was little,'' said Smith, who has a handful of offers -- but none from the Sunshine State. ``So it's a little devastating about them overlooking me.

``But I'm all right.''

Indeed he is. Smith might come up short, height-wise (he lists himself at 5-9, although some have him at 5-7), but not in many other places.

His 40-yard dash time -- the high 4.3-range and dropping, he says -- is stellar.

TOP NATIONAL RANKING

His production -- more than 1,000 yards rushing last season -- helped lead the Blue Devils to the 2B state championship and USA Today's No. 6 national ranking.

And then there's his build, which Thompson simply called ``that spread-offense body.''

Small but powerful, Smith projects as the prototypical player for the offensive system that has grown from obscurity into a flat-out trend -- even permeating Michigan's Maize and Blue after the school hired former West Virginia coach and spread-offense guru Rich Rodriguez this offseason.

The aptly named system spreads four or sometimes five wide receivers across the field, requiring its running back to be quick and shifty between the tackles -- almost always without the help of a lead-blocking fullback -- plus show the ability to step into the secondary and grab a pass, sometimes out of the slot.

In other words, it's a perfect fit for Smith.

''He can do a lot,'' Pahokee quarterback-to-be Nu'Keese Richardson said, ``as far as catching it out [of] the backfield, making guys miss and stuff like that.''

Added coach Blaze Thompson: ``When he goes to camps, he'll go from wide receiver to running back, wide receiver to running back.

``He runs great routes, and he's powerful.''

Of course, on the other side, such a situation might keep some schools from looking at him -- which seems to be happening with Smith's home-state schools.

Thompson also said other Florida colleges already have commitments or serious interest from similar players, leaving no room on their rosters for another shifty-type back.

SOME MOTIVATION

Still, Smith said the in-state snubs are providing him ''a lot of motivation.'' And it's not as if he is without confidence. The offers he has received tell Smith that there is a place -- perhaps even a high-profile one -- for him on the college level.

''[When I got] my first offer from Michigan,'' Smith said, ``I knew then I was going to be good.''

How good? That's to be determined. Smith said he will visit Michigan, Tennessee and Minnesota in one swing this summer, the first time he has been to any of those campuses.

He hopes to pick one of those -- or another school -- soon after. Whichever his running back chooses, Thompson said, it should be a good fit.

''If somebody puts him in the spread offense,'' Thompson said, ``he'll be successful.''