HUBBARD Traveling Smith settles on college, will play at Syracuse next season

The Eagle standout set the school's single-season rushing record.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
HUBBARD -- For the past few weeks, Hubbard senior Anthony Smith has been a traveling man.
Beginning next fall, he'll be an Orangeman.
Smith verbally committed to Syracuse University on Wednesday, where he will play safety for the Orangemen football team.
"I think the fact that they have great tradition, are nationally ranked and are one of the forces in the Big East [Conference] really impressed him," said Hubbard coach Jeff Bayuk. "He visited last weekend and as soon as he stepped on campus, he felt comfortable."
That wasn't true at Smith's other stops. He visited Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame and West Virginia before visiting the New York campus. Former Struthers tailback Walter Reyes was Smith's campus guide, something that may have swayed him, Bayuk said.
"I think it helped knowing someone up there from the area," Bayuk said. "From what I understand, Reyes is in a pretty good position to play this season."
Solid career: Smith (6-foot-2, 175 pounds) became Hubbard's single-season rushing leader with 1,658 yards and surpassed 4,000 yards for his career. He led the Eagles (11-1) into the playoffs, where they lost to Poland in the Division III regional semifinal.
Attempts to reach Smith Thursday night were unsuccessful.
Most major colleges recruited Smith as a safety, although several Mid-American Conference schools offered him a chance to play tailback, Bayuk said.
But Smith, who attended football camps in Columbus and South Bend this summer, wanted the chance to play for a major program, Bayuk said.
"I think most kids who have that kind of ability want to test themselves and play at that level," Bayuk said. "That's what makes him such a special player."
Strong tradition: Under 11th-year head coach Paul Pasqualoni, Syracuse went 9-3 this season and will play Kansas State in the Insight.com Bowl on Dec. 29. The Orangemen will play in their 21st bowl game in school history and their eighth under Pasqualoni.
Syracuse plays in the 50,000-seat Carrier Dome, one of the few college programs to play indoors. Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb and Browns wideout Kevin Johnson are two former Orangemen now playing in the NFL.
"He's really excited about the opportunities," Bayuk said. "Syracuse has a solid program with beautiful facilities. I'm pretty excited for him."
scalzo@vindy.com