For Colby Smith, all signs point to Tennessee

Colby Smith has been committed to Tennessee for a while and that’s not likely to change before pen hits paper.

“Absolutely, I’m still firm on my Tennessee commitment,” Smith told Volquest when asked of his commitment level. “The relationship with the coaches continues to grow. We talk just about every week and coach [Will] Friend are really clicking.”

North Carolina is not playing high school football this fall amid the coronavirus pandemic, thus the Rockingham County standout has had ample time to prepare for and watch his future team.

“I have been in the weight room a lot. Hitting the gym and staying in the classroom - that’s been my fall,” Smith said. “Tennessee has been running the football well and that correlates to my position. That’s a good sign for me and makes me real excited.”

The 6-foot-7, 317-pound athlete has a lot to offer. It’s easy to see why UT’s coaching staff made the three-star a priority.

“They really like my size and how hard I play the game,” the commit said of the staff. “With my frame right now, I have a whole lot more room to add muscle weight. I can be heavy without being fat, and I can move really well and use my length to my advantage.”

While watching the Auburn game last week, Smith made note of how well the offensive line played together. And despite a disappointing record right now, the Wentworth, N.C. native knows there’s better days to come.

“I think they did great. Those guys mesh so well,” Smith said of the line. “I watch them and see all the little things they do well and I learn from that. We are only going to get better when our class arrives. I think we will get a whole lot better.”

Despite the COVID year of 2020, Smith is focused on making his senior year a good one – and after taking two years off from basketball, the big man is returning to the hardwood for a final ride.

“Basketball really helps with my footwork and it teaches me to be lighter on my feet,” Smith said. “I’ve dropped some weight too. It’s really keeping me in shape.”

Smith’s senior year won’t conclude with just basketball. No, the football standout couldn’t leave his hometown without giving his friends and teammates one final season.

“I plan on playing in the spring. It will be a reduced schedule of about seven games, but I love my team and it would beat me up if I left without playing,” Smith said. “I’m going to be as cautious as I can – I’ve already ordered knee braces. Tennessee said the decision was totally up to me and the staff was completely okay with it.”

Once all the dust settles and Smith walks across the stage for graduation, the offensive lineman will be eager to get his Volunteer journey underway. He knows he is going to the right place and had a sign to prove it to himself.

“With Tennessee, everything was right and everything was clicking. I loved how they coach and I loved the atmosphere up there,” Smith concluded. “I prayed really hard about it.

“In fact, I don’t think I’ve even said this out loud before. But I was praying one day and I looked up in the sky and saw a ‘Power T’ in the clouds. I took that as a sign and I committed about four days later.”

Smith plans to sign with the Vols in December and will report in the summer of 2021.