Parting Shot: Armwood RB Eric Smith

During the next few weeks, we'll be doing short Q&As with some of the top Hillsborough County athletes from the class of 2008. Today's subject: Armwood running back Eric Smith, who is headed to Auburn on a football scholarship.

SPT: What are you going to miss most about high school?
ES: I'm definitely going to miss chapel on Friday nights. That’s really what got me hyped right before our games. Our chaplin, Ron Ellis, would come in and say a lot of encouraging words.
SPT: What are you looking forward to most about college?
ES: My first college carry.
SPT: Nervous at all?
ES: I think I am a little bit. I’ve been away from home, but not like college. You never know when your next break is going to be to come home and see family.
SPT: What will you be studying up there?
ES: Forensics. I want to be a crime scene investigator.
SPT: Best teammate you ever had at Armwood?
ES: My brother (linebacker Petey Smith).
SPT: Funniest?
ES: (OL) James Lee. If you want somebody to get picked on, he’ll do it for you. He’s a real comedian.
SPT: If you weren’t a running back, what would you be playing?
ES: Linebacker. I loved linebacker when I was in little league. I used to ask coach (Armwood coach Sean Callahan) if I could play a down or two in a game, and he was like, 'Nah.'
SPT: Aside from anyone at Armwood, if there was one local high school coach you’d want to play for, whom would it be?
ES: Nobody.
SPT: If you were starting a team, which three local players would you want on it?
ES: Petey Smith, (Armwood DE) Ryne Giddins and (Armwood QB) Mywan Jackson.
SPT: Favorite player not at Armwood?
ES: I enjoyed watching (RB) Jahleel Addae at Riverview.
SPT: What’s the biggest piece of advice you’ve given your brother (a rising senior) when it comes to recruiting?
ES: Don’t narrow your schools down too soon.

--KEITH NIEBUHR