Ikem Okeke, Michael Geraghty, Chauntez Thomas, Haskell Garrett, Noah Noce, Derriyon Shaw, Christian Minor, Anthony Smith, Rudy Bukassa, Brock Hershberger, Vasa Hansell, Greg Rogers, and Javion Hunt are part of the Suns preseason all-city team for the 2015 season.
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015 | 9:54 p.m.
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He wanted to be Nevada’s all-time sack leader. He wanted to help his team win a state championship.
He was going to be the city’s best defender.
Then, one week before the Desert Pines High football team was supposed to begin its season last August, defensive end Anthony Smith’s high school career suddenly ended. He tore his ACL in a scrimmage and would be out for the year.
The disappointment of not playing quickly turned into motivation to get back on the field. And when Smith suits up again, it will be in college at Colorado State.
The 6-foot-3, 250 pound pass rusher verbally committed tonight to the Rams, picking the Mountain West school over offers from San Diego State, Washington State and others.
“I wasn’t used to not playing,” he said. “It was something I had to overcome. But it’s also been a blessing in disguise. I learned to not take anything for granted.”
Smith led Nevada with 16 sacks in 2014 and was considered the state’s No. 1 college recruit by Rivals.com. The state record for sacks was 32 — well within his reach.
But, instead of chasing the record, Smith was rehabbing his knee. He had surgery on the day of Desert Pines’ season opener.
He’s likely a candidate to redshirt next fall in college, but says that decision won’t be made until the summer. He hopes to be cleared by the spring.
“They (Colorado State) want whatever is best for me,” he said of red-shirting.
Whatever is best for him extends past the football field. He’ll receive a full-ride scholarship, becoming the first in his family to attend college.
“(My parents) are pumped up and excited,” he said.
Smith is the second from Desert Pines to make a verbal commitment in the past week. Offensive lineman Sam Poutasi, who also missed time this season with an ACL injury, picked Oregon.
Verbal commitments are nonbinding until national signing day.
Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21
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