In his first year of playing on the gridiron since youth football, Riverview sophomore athlete JT Smith stood out and has the attention of Arkansas.
“He’s fast, he’s got some burst,” said Riverview Coach Mike McCain. “He runs decent routes. We think he can get a lot better in his route running. He just hasn’t done a lot of it. He catches the ball well. He can go up and get the ball. He’s just a playmaker.”
Smith, 6-2, 170, 4.57 seconds in the 40-yard dash, had 28 receptions for 480 yards, 8 touchdowns along with 30 tackles, 4 interceptions and 6 pass breakups at cornerback.
He’s been a standout in basketball for Riverview and the Arkansas Hawks in the spring and summer. He was a preseason All White County selection in basketball.
Razorback tight ends Coach Barry Lunney Jr. was impressed with Smith’s video and has invited him to Arkansas’ two remaining home games.
“He feels like he’s a kid that’s got it,” McCain said. “He said he looks like he’s possibly going to be a DI kid. He liked his offense, but he really liked what he saw on defense. They’re wanting him to come watch a game in the next two home games.”
Smith also had 4 punt returns for 100 yards.
“He played both sides of the ball,” McCain said. “He never came off the field because we have low numbers. He’s on special teams. He did it all for us. I can’t imagine if he was fresh what he would do.”
McCain said Smith makes things happens with the ball in his hands.
“We ran some reverses that weren’t there, and he made something out of nothing,” McCain said.