Tom Smith bursts through a hole during an early season game for the Blue Darters.
Willing to pound
FAU offers Apopka running back Tom Smith, who scored more than 20 touchdowns as a junior and led his school on a deep run in the 2009 playoffs.
Originally published on
3/22/2010
by
Chuck King
> Video: Tom Smith's 2009 highlights
Florida Atlantic only signed one running back as part of its 2010 recruiting class, Tallahassee-Lincoln’s Tony Moore.
Even though recruiting for the class of 2011 is barely underway, the Owls aren’t wasting much time trying to bring additional bodies to their backfield.
FAU is among the three schools that have already offered Apopka running back Tom Smith.
“I think that’s pretty awesome,” said Smith, who said he has also received offers from Memphis and FIU.
Smith is similar to Moore - and starting FAU running back Alfred Morris for that matter – in that he’s a powerful running back who can take a pounding.
The 5-foot-11, 205-pounder rushed for nearly 1,600 yards and more than 20 touchdowns as a junior while leading the Blue Darters to the 2009 Class 6A football final four.
“He’s a kid who can carry the ball 25-30 times a game,” Apopka recruiting coordinator Brandon Siefker said. “He belongs in the Big 12 in the 90s. He’s a kid who could pound the ball at you all day.”
Pounding the ball is exactly what Apopka did. Employing the single wing formation, the Blue Darters relied heavily on the run. Why wouldn’t they considering Smith, who’s been clocked at 4.5 in the 40, averaged 7.5 yards per carry?
“The funny thing is, the one knock people have on him is they question his top-end speed, but when you watch him on tape no on ever catches him,” Siefker said.
Smith has yet to visit FAU, though he has spent time on Florida International’s campus with his cousin Larvez "Pooh Bear" Mars, a linebacker for the Golden Panthers.
Despite the early offers, Smith does not expect to choose a school before the start of his senior season.
“I’m still doing research, still talking to my dad about what I want to do,” Smith said.
After never getting below a B in the classroom, Smith expects to use his senior season to further develop his leadership skills on the football field.
“I think I should be on another level because of my senior year,” he said. “Last year I was still following and learning. I’m teaching now.”