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7/20/06

ANTHONY HANSHEW: Has Marshall landed coup in QB Smith?


Chris Smith has earned today's spotlight moment.

South Point High School's strong-armed, athletic quarterback has stared down the sometimes searing recruiting glare. From all indications, Smith wasn't affected on Friday nights and he was just as effective this summer during his camp tour.

Rather than continue the recruiting process through his senior season, Smith will announce his college choice at 1 p.m. today at South Point. He respectfully declined to show his hand on Wednesday, but it appears Smith will remain home for his college career.

Marshall has been listed among Smith's top choices throughout, along with several BCS programs. Thundering Herd head coach Mark Snyder grew up in South Point, leading to a logical bond to the Smith family.

Offensive coordinator Larry Kueck's wide-open offense appears an ideal fit for Smith, who threw for more than 1,500 yards and added 700 rushing yards as a junior. He accounted for 22 touchdowns last season, topping a breakout sophomore season when he also tossed for 1,500 yards.

Academics aren't an issue with a 3.2 GPA and 22 ACT score, leading to his long list of suitors. Marshall, Iowa, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Bowling Green and Akron have offered scholarships, according to the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Smith.

Credit the Smith family for due dilligence. He participated in camps at North Carolina State, Marshall and Ohio State this summer and also visited Tennessee.

Again, Smith didn't give away the ending to today's press conference during Wednesday's interview, but it appears two plus two equals Marshall.

"I had an idea about where I wanted to go the whole time," Smith said. "But I wanted to go out and make sure that's where I wanted to go.

"I've been all over the place at different camps, talking to different people and I finally found the school I'm comfortable with and I'm going to go with it."

Should Smith don a Marshall cap this afternoon, Snyder's already impressive recruiting resume would add another gold star. Make that four stars, actually, matching Smith's lofty rating from www.scout.com.

Smith would join Beckley High School lineman Micah Carter as early commitments. Both are local products whose recruiting processes were anything but local.

Like Carter, Smith looks forward to a relatively stress-free senior season.
"It's a really big relief, getting this off my chest," Smith said. "Now I can go out and enjoy my senior season."

Anthony Hanshew covers Marshall football for The Herald-Dispatch. He can be reached at 526-2766. His e-mail address is hanshew@herald-dispatch.com.