Those in the know are familiar with the name "Big Game" Torry Holt, Pro Bowl Wide

    Scouts and talent evaluators classify Smith as an athlete.  A coach can be around the game for 25 years and upon short glance look at the way a player moves and say whether or not a player is a natural quarterback, running back, cornerback, etc. The same coach can look at another player and say that particular player can play multiple positions.   Its just God given talent that allows a player to seamlessly do things on the athletic field or basketball court thru a combination of cerebral dexterity and physical genius.

     In the high school ranks this year highly publicized players such as Deontay Twyman of Sherwood, Joe Haden of Friendly, and Nate Bussey of Dunbar all fall into this category.  Although Haden and Bussey both played quarterback for their perspective teams, they also played the safety position because of their ability to explosively run, read, leap and react.   Torrey Smith of Stafford High School in Stafford County, VA is right in their league literally and figuratively. In fact if you take into account the measurable like the vertical leaping ability and the 40-yard dash, I would venture to say Smith's maybe a shade better.

     Smith is classified in high school football circles by recruiting scouts as a Dual Threat Quarterback, which means he drops back like a pro-style quarterback or he can run the option offense and take off with the ball.  Smith didn't have the eye popping statistics, state title championships and appearances like Haden, Bussey, & Twyman but as an individually talented athlete he is every bit as good as the above mentioned.

     Torrey Smith entered Stafford High School and as a freshman soon started on the varsity basketball team.  Smith finished his high school career as a four-year starter for Stafford and lead the Indians in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and blocks his senior season. Smith received All Commonwealth District Honors and leads the Indians to a third place finish this year in the District standings.  Coach Stephen Spicer, Smith's basketball coach, when asked what he will miss the most about Smith said "The crowd pleasing dunks."  As a matter of fact Coach Spicer mentioned "he would get on Smith for being too unselfish."  Smith's 40-inch vertical allows him to rebound and finish at the rim from a standing start.  Spicer mentioned that from "feelers" sent out to Division-1 college basketball coaches’ yielded interest.  "There is no doubt that if Smith concentrated on basketball, he would have gotten a Division-1 scholarship but the football coaches nabbed him, Spicer says."

     Unfortunately it was basketball that almost set his football career back.  The football coaches began to take interest in Smith his freshman year.  Smith started at the cornerback and wide receiver position in the 10th grade and with hard work he began to develop his body. Smith's talent began to blossom his sophomore year as he returned 5 kicks for touchdowns. Offers began to pour in.  During the summer after his sophomore year leading into his junior year disaster struck.

    Smith sustained a knee injury in a summer league game going for dunk.  It was discovered in was a patella tendon injury.  The rehabilitation process caused him to miss six games his junior year.  The offers began to evaporate but Smith worked like a demon to get himself back into position to play. This is one of the qualities that both Coach Spicer and his current football coach Chad Lewis rave about Smith, his work ethic. After Coach Lewis arrived at Stafford High he began to hear what a great athlete Smith was and found out he's a heck of a kid as well.  All the coaches talked about were what a great work ethic Smith has.

    Smith came back after the injury six games into the season but teams wouldn't kick to him.  He returned one kickoff in each of his junior and senior seasons.  Smith scored 17 touchdowns his senior season, 12 rushing, 3 passing, 1 receiving, and one returned kick.  Going into the Nike Camp in Clemson, SC the summer before his senior year in high school, Smith turned in an impressive 4.5 40 but Smith states he "no doubt’ can do a 4.4. 

    All the local Division-1 football schools offered Smith but in the end he chose Maryland. "I felt comfortable with the coaching staff and I liked the facilities."  Smith will be allowed to come in and compete right away for a wide receiver spot on the roster.  As coach Spicer mentioned, "If he has to red shirt he will graciously do what he has to because he's a quality kid, with good character, and a strong work ethic."  Smith currently carries a 3.4 GPA and will start school in early June.

   In Stafford County, VA Torrey Smith is a well-known name and regarded as one of the finest athletes to come thru that part of the area in awhile.  Kids in Gayle Middle School where he attended already want to be the "the next Torrey Smith." Correction, make that "Big Game" Torrey Smith.

   For football images of Torrey Smith, go to DCMetrosports.com/prepsportgallery click on the Stafford vs. Mountain View slideshow.