One of the more imposing looking players in the North-South All-Star Classic
at 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds was Brandon Smith of Euclid High School.
“It was great competition and it was fun,” Smith said. “It hurts to
lose, but it’s an all-star game and there were a lot of big plays made and so
on.”
Smith, who played his customary linebacker position in the contest for the
North squad, wasn’t exactly happy with his performance in his team’s losing
cause.
“I couldn’t really do much,” Smith said. “I can’t blitz and I can’t
drop all the way back into coverage, so it’s like I didn’t do much. It hurts
because I didn’t really contribute.”
But
the game itself didn’t take away from the overall excitement that he
experienced during the rest of the week.
“It was a great week,” Smith said. “I got to hang with a lot of guys I
didn’t know, and some were my rivals. I became good friends with almost all of
them.”
Smith came away from the game very impressed with Curtis Terry, his future
Ohio State teammate.
“He had a great game, and that was his goal (to win the MVP). He told us on
Sunday that was his goal, and he did it,” Smith said. “I’m happy for him.”
He also commented on a few of his future Buckeye teammates on the other side
of the ball for the South.
“Erik Haw runs hard as expected,” Smith said. “Chad Hoobler is pretty
strong and Ben Person...I never locked up with Ben, but I bet you he’s
something.”
Smith was headed back Euclid to continue working out at home over the summer.
“I’m just going to get back in the weight room and pick it up a notch and
get ready for the Big 33,” he said. “And then eventually get ready to go to
school.”
The anticipation is great for Smith concerning his future at Ohio State.
“I just can’t wait,” he said. “I’m going to soak in everything like
a sponge. I’m going to try to hang around A.J. Hawk (and Bobby Carpenter) and
maybe they’ll rub off on me when I get to campus and learn everything I can.”
He’s slated at Sam linebacker for the time being.
“That’s what they’re telling me now,” Smith said, “but I think I’ll
get too big and I’ll end up on the line.”