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Girard receiver Smith picks YSU for college
By JOE SCALZO
YOUNGSTOWN
Girard senior wide receiver Landon Smith had offers to play college football at schools in the Big Ten, Big East and Mid-American Conference.
He didn’t need to look that far to find what he wanted.
On Friday night, Smith became the third area player from the Class of 2011 to verbally commit to Youngstown State.
“This is where I grew up, this is my home,” Smith said. “Sometimes you don’t always have to go to a big school.
“Sometimes the right place is right in your backyard.”
Smith (6-foot-1, 185 pounds) was a first team All-Ohioan last fall for the Indians, who went 10-0 in the regular season for the first time in school history before falling to Peninsula Woodridge in the Division IV regional semifinals.
He caught 44 passes for 1,102 yards and 17 TDs last fall and was named the district’s co-offensive player of the year. He was also a starter at free safety, where he had five interceptions, and returned kicks on special teams.
Smith chose YSU over Indiana, Syracuse, Toledo, Akron, Kent State, Ohio University and Ball State.
“I like how YSU is so close,” said Smith, who is leaning toward a physical therapy major. “My mom can’t go all the way out to Indiana and Syracuse every week. YSU is just down the street and it’s easy for her to get there.”
Other area commitments from this year’s class are West Branch offensive lineman Brandon Ferguson and Fitch defensive lineman Steve Zaborsky.
YSU coach Eric Wolford also has picked up two recruits from western Pennsylvania: Quarterback Dante Nania (Hempfield Area) and receiver Christian Bryan (Norwin).
Smith said he wasn’t recruited by YSU until Wolford arrived.
“He’s getting a lot of good players and the team is looking real good,” Smith said. “There’s going to be some playoff-bound teams in the future.”
Smith, who is ranked No. 64 among Ohio seniors by ScoutingOhio.com, decided to commit early so he could enter his senior season distraction-free.
“I’m gonna go out there and make plays and do what I usually do,” Smith said. “A lot of people are saying we’re not going to be as good as we were last year because we lost so much [to graduation].
“Those people are in for a surprise.”