'09 MD ATH Devon Smith (Penn State Verbal)

[PSU42Fan]

'09 MD ATH Devon Smith



Athlete
Waldorf (MD) Westlake

Ht: 5-foot-7
Wt: 140 lbs
Forty: 4.4 secs
Class: 2009 (High School)

[immikefazz]

Originally Posted by PSU42Fan

Per BWI and ESPN MD site. No article as of yet but should be forthcoming.

Good news. As I'm sure you do, I expect a commitment sooner rather than later...

[PSU42Fan]

mike, I'm thinking Sept. 6...

[FrankBooth]

This offer makes me wonder what has changed with kids who already have offers. Like, has the staff given up on getting Austin or somebody else?

I suppose another explanation could be scholies being freed up with the departures of Baker and Taylor. On a related note, I noticed in JoePa's press conference today that Zug has earned a scholie.

[Undercover Brother]

Smith's PSU offer has nothing to do with anyone that is riding the fence - ie Tavon Austin. JMO If the Graham kid from NJ received an offer, then I would agree.

[PSU42Fan]

Originally Posted by FrankBooth

This offer makes me wonder what has changed with kids who already have offers. Like, has the staff given up on getting Austin or somebody else?

I suppose another explanation could be scholies being freed up with the departures of Baker and Taylor. On a related note, I noticed in JoePa's press conference today that Zug has earned a scholie.

Frank - two things:

1. Smith had not received his ACT scores until recently. Once he checked out, the offer was in the mail.

2. Not that it's the main reason why he got the offer, but Smith is very good friends with Derrick Thomas. Smith divulged that Maryland has been on Thomas hard, but THOMAS HAS BEEN RECRUITING SMITH TO PENN STATE.

[immikefazz]

By the way, my 2 cents is that this is a good offer. As they say, you either have speed or you're chasing it...

[PSU42Fan]

Thanks, RU.

[AustinScottistheone]

I like the offer. We do not have a spectacular passing attack by any means so if Devon can help 5-6 plays per game in the slot and return kicks, possibly even punts we'll be in good shape. I think I would prefer that Derrick Thomas take over for DWill as a punt returner but that kind of hinges on him actually coming to Penn State...I worry about his parents and what the fat man is selling them.

It may not make OTL but MD sends a handful of kids the prep route seemingly year after year and there always seem to be a couple you never hear about again because they just try to get them borderline and qualified. At least with Penn State you know education and academics comes before football, it is quite rare to see more than a few kids that need to pick it up academically at Penn State. Also Joe will call you out on it, as he has done with Tony Hunt, Andrew Quarless and numerous other players.

[wadc45]

ESPN - Happy Valley comes calling for Smith - MdVarsity.com

It seems fitting that Westlake's Devon Smith should receive an offer from Penn State. After all, Happy Valley is the place where the 5-foot-7, 140-pound athlete started to make a name for himself.

"It felt real good (receiving the Penn State offer). I was waiting for a long time. I was just waiting to get my ACT scores in," Smith said. "This is a big offer I was waiting for. Not that I'm going to rush in and commit. My coach (Westlake head coach Dominic Zaccarelli) wants me to wait and visit all the schools that have offered for football and track."

Penn State offered Smith as a slot receiver. Smith holds offers to play football from Temple, Akron, Eastern Michigan and now Penn State, but also has offers from Kansas State, LSU and Florida.

[HotMic]

Scout $

8/14

From the PSU site. Smith was hoping to get an offer from Penn State, but says he will still take his time (and some visits) before making his choice. He plans to visit schools that have offered in football and track, and says that despite having friends at PSU that won't be the base of his decision.

[wadc45]

Rivals $

8/25

From BWI...says several schools are waiting for senior film...has offers from Penn State, Temple, Akron and Eastern Michigan. Visiting PSU on 9/6.

[wadc45]

Free Rivals

9/8

From BWI...postponed his PSU official because of weather and will likely visit for the Temple game.

[GoRU]

Rivals (free)

9/17

Speaking of Penn State, athlete Devon Smith, from Waldorf (Md.) Westlake, is expected to commit when he finally makes his official visit to State College. It is supposed to be the weekend of Sept. 26 when Penn State plays host to Illinois. Smith (5-7/140) is tight with current Penn State commitments Derrick Thomas and Stephon Morris, and they played together at one time at Greenbelt (Md.) Eleanor Roosevelt. Thomas was considering de-committing and heading to Maryland, but he has since solidified his commitment to the Nittany Lions.

That article also mentions Carson and PSU's interest in Noel and Hodges.