Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Waiting one’s turn is never fun or easy, but now Preston Smith’s number has been called. Smith (6-0, 170) spent his junior campaign showing his fantastic hands in Archbishop Moeller’s (Cincinnati, Ohio) offensive attack with Arkansas State signee Tennel Bryant getting the majority of targets on passing downs. With a new head coach, new offensive outlook, and new focus on their rising 2024 talent, Preston Smith is poised for a big 2023 run.
Over the years, Smith has applied his athleticism with the Fighting Crusaders on the hardwood, gridiron, and track. This spring Smith competed in the 100, 200, and 4×2. That developing speed is about to be put to good use.
“We are pass heavy running a Spread with RPO (run-pass option),” Smith stated.
Smith continued, “I have been talking to my head coach, we have a new head coach, he said he will move me around and get me involved. I will mainly be at slot receiver and at outside receiver for one-on-one matchups.”
At a recent Cincinnati Bearcats camp, Smith posted a verified 4.5 time in the 40-yard dash. Speed is the name of the game this summer for Smith.
“This offseason is about speed,” Smith said. “I am doing a lot of footwork drills, hip mobility drills for shiftiness, but the main thing I need to work on is my speed. I get compliments on my route running. It is crisp, it could be crisper, but I want to beat guys with speed as well.”
The precision route running, hands, and speed have already been showcased at four camps this summer.
“I have competed at a West Virginia camp, UC, Tiffin, and a VTO camp,” Smith stated. “I won MVP and was invited to the VTO All-American camp.”
The action at the Mountaineers camp was updated.
“I had a really good time there,” Smith shared. “There was a lot of good competition; I loved it. I talked to (head coach) Neal Brown. They took us on a visit; I really loved it. I really liked the competition and the coaches there.”
The Bearcats camp allowed Smith to line up against familiar regional competition.
“As a local guy, I knew a lot of guys there; I had fun,” Smith stated.
The next round of camps picks up on Friday.
“I am going to the Miami-Ohio mega camp on Friday and the day after that to an Indiana camp,” Smith said. “I am going to Illinois at the end of the month.”
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