'11 KY QB DaMarcus Smith (Verbal Offer)

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'11 KY QB DaMarcus Smith

Quarterback
Louisville (KY) Seneca

Ht: 6-foot-2
Wt: 180 lbs
Class: 2011 (High School)

courier-journal.com | Jody Demling - Recruiting blog | The Courier-Journal

Seneca coach Louis Dover said Illinois has offered sophomore quarterback DaMarcus Smith, who is considered one of the state's top prospects in the Class of 2011.

courier-journal.com | Jody Demling - Recruiting blog | The Courier-Journal

One of the top high school football players in the state is at Seneca High School - and to think DaMarcus Smith is only a sophomore.

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Smith turned in a sensational season for the RedHawks.

Smith completed 169 of 329 passes for 3,227 yards and 32 touchdowns for Seneca, while also rushing 99 times for 457 yards and three touchdowns.

He had seven 300-yard games for the 6-6 RedHawks, including 19 of 48 for 302 yards against Class 6-A state champion Trinity. Smith also ran for over 100 yards against Eastern.

While college coaches can't official extend an offer in football until the fall of a prospects junior season, Smith already holds an unofficial offer from Illinois.

Louisville, Kentucky, and UCLA have all shown interest and Smith said "I think they will offer me a scholarship when it's legal."

Smith, who isn't playing basketball this winter to concentrate on football, was decked out in a Louisville jacket, sweatshirt and hat last weekend when collecting his 6-A, District 5 Player of the Year award at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.

"I like Louisville a lot," Smith said.

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Scout $

3/2

Louisville, WKU, and UK have sent in verbal offers.

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courier-journal.com | Jody Demling - Recruiting blog | The Courier-Journal

But for now, here's a quick update on the offer list of Seneca sophomore Damarcus Smith.

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Smith is one of the top players in the state in the Class of 2011 had a solid showing last weekend at a Scout.com combine in Cincinnati.

Seneca coach Louis Dover said Purdue has offered a scholarship. The offer list now includes Louisville, Kentucky, Western Kentucky, Illinois and Purdue. LSU, Stanford and California have all called recently and requested tape.

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Cats eyeing 2 QBs from 2011 class | KentuckySports.com

Smith's recruitment should heat up over the next couple of years, particularly in Kentucky. Smith's mother, Daytonya Ward, said her son and entire family are Louisville fans, and the U of L coaching staff has identified Smith as a program-changing recruit.

"They're telling him that he's the player who can really get things turned around in a positive direction for them, and they think he's the kind of guy who can bring other players along with him," Ward said.

But Ward said UK has made a positive impression. In addition to attending the Score 6 Camp, Smith visited Lexington for the Western Kentucky game in September and is scheduled to be on campus again this weekend.

"They really rolled out the Big Blue carpet for us, and we loved it," Ward said. "We always had a misconception that UK fans were obnoxious, but they were great. They were just like us. They treated DaMarcus like a celebrity. Kentucky will definitely have a strong chance."

Smith has no plans to commit early; his mother said he likely will wait until his senior year. Smith enjoyed his visit to Illinois ("He got to meet Juice Williams, who's one of his favorites," Ward said) and might take a trip to UCLA.

"His dad lives in Miami and wants him to come play ball down there," Ward said. "And we've got family all over, East Coast to West Coast. He's such a nice kid and doesn't like turning anybody down. He's got so much pressure coming from so many different angles, but so far he's handling it well."