Jonathan Smith prepares for the draft

Nice story on "Fred" as he prepares for the NFL "combine" and the draft. We would all love nothing more than to see him drafted and get his shot in the NFL.

From Clinch County News

Argyle's Smith pointing toward the pros

Four years ago, Jonathan “Fred” Smith made history as the first Clinch County High product to sign a football scholarship with a Division 1-A school. In April, he could make history again – as the first Clinch County High product to sign with a professional football team.

Smith, from Argyle, finished his decorated football career at Georgia Tech two weeks ago with a victory over Tulsa in the Humanitarian Bowl. For the next month, he will be working out in preparation for the NFL combine, to be held in Indianapolis from February 18-24. Last week, he was invited to the combine, where NFL prospects are weighed, measured, poked and prodded by pro football scouts in preparation for the NFL draft, to be held April 24-25.

“I started last Tuesday working out three hours a day, five days a week,” Smith said Monday of his sessions with noted trainer Chip Smith in Duluth. “It’s been sort of tough, but I can already feel it making a difference.”

Smith, the trainer, is working with Smith and fellow Yellow Jackets J.P. Foschi and Hugh Reilly, and Nebraska quarterback Jamal Lord, among others, in an attempt to improve their speed and strength for the combine. Smith has trained a long list of NFL standouts prior to their drafts – including Chicago’s Brian Urlacher, Champ and Boss Bailey, Garrison Hearst and Keith Brooking.

Smith said the workouts include running and weightlifting sessions – each an hour and a half. All this, and he is still taking classes at Tech, where he will be 15 hours shy of a business management degree at the end of this semester.

“I’m still in school. Now that the season is over, I’m basically working out, going to school, and sleeping,” Smith said. “I think I have a good chance to play in the NFL, but nothing is guaranteed. A lot will depend on how I do at the combine.”
Smith has signed with agent Jack Reale of Atlanta, whose clients include the Bailey brothers (from Folkston), and former Tech coaches George O’Leary and Ralph Friedgen.

Smith finished his Georgia Tech career as one of the greatest receivers in Yellow Jacket football history. He holds the Tech single-season record for most receptions with 78, set this season. He holds the Tech record for most yards receiving in a season – 1,138, also set this season. His six 100-yard receiving games in 2003 ties a Yellow Jacket record. In Tech history, he is second on the career receiving list, with 173 receptions, and is fourth all-time in receiving yardage. His 78 receptions led the ACC this year, and in November against North Carolina, he became the first player in Tech history to throw, catch and return a punt for a touchdown in a single game.

His versatility is an advantage that sits well with NFL scouts. One mock NFL draft, NFL Draft Showcase, (which included projected juniors that may enter the draft) had Smith going in the seventh round, to Buffalo with the 13th pick. Experts say a good performance at the combine could move Smith (5-10, 190) as high as the third or fourth rounds.

At Clinch County High School, where he graduated in 2000, Smith was a three-sport athlete, playing quarterback on the football team, an All-State point guard on the basketball team, and shortstop on the Panther baseball team. He won the A.I. Robbins Award for best all-around athlete at CCHS his junior and senior years.

Coming to Tech as a “sleeper” recruit, Smith said visions of the NFL weren’t the first thing on his mind when he came to The Flats.
“I thought about it a little, but I just wanted to do well, get my degree, and see what happened,” he said from Atlanta Monday. “Now, I’m just going to work hard, do my best at the combine, and see what happens.”

Smith is the son of Ethel Smith of Argyle.