Local inks professional football contract

More than a decade ago, a young boy from Houma named played football for Terrebonne Parish Recreation. He loved the sport and had big dreams of turning the game into more than just a hobby.

“I knew it was possible,” he said. “There was never a doubt in my mind.”

Now, many, many years later, that young boy is now a man and football is still firmly in his future.

Through all the years and after sacrificing all of the hard work, blood, sweat and tears, he can finally say to the world that he’s accomplished one of his biggest goals.

Trevon Smith now a pro in the sport he loves.

Smith signed a professional contract with the Memphis team in the new Alliance of American Football League — an upstart league which will begin play in its inaugural season early next year.

Smith, a South Terrebonne graduate and a former standout receiver at Arkansas-Monticello, said knowing that his playing days will continue is a feeling that’s indescribable — a feeling of pride that is hard to summarize in the context of a few sentences.

“This is a dream come true for me,” Smith said. “Not many young men from my area are able to say that they have accomplished this goal. So I’ll be able to tell this story for them to show them that anything is possible.”

Smith has been a standout for a long time, though his successes maybe have flown a little under the radar in the football world.

After those early days in TPR, Smith was a standout quarterback for South Terrebonne High School — one of the top players in the area for his junior and senior seasons.

Smith was a senior in the 2011 season. In that year, he led the Gators to their first playoff win since 2005. He also was lethal as a runner and passer. With his arm, he passed for more than 1,000 yards and 10 scores. With his legs, he scored 12 touchdowns.

“He’s a great leader for us and a great young man,” South Terrebonne football coach Richard Curlin said during that year. “The younger players look up to him and he’s a playmaker who can do special things out there when he’s on the field. We’re glad that he’s on our side and in our huddle.”

Smith had the size to play quarterback at the next level, standing 6-feet, 3-inches and weighing close to 200 pounds.

But scouts liked his athleticism better on the edges as a receiver, which led him to the University of Arkansas-Monticello at the collegiate level.

With UAM, Smith shined and earned himself a chance to extend his career.

In 2016, Smith played in just 8 games, but had an impact, securing 22 grabs for 441 yards and four touchdowns for his team. He ranked second on the team in receiving touchdowns (4) and receiving yards per game (55.1).

Last year as a senior, Smith’s role expanded and he shined, posting 29 catches for 510 yards and seven touchdowns.

UAM football coach Hud Jackson said Smith was a quality person — on and off the field — the type of guy who deserves to have successes come his way. The coach said he’s proud of Smith for sticking with his goals and signing with the new league, which consists of several former NFL players who are serving as executives or coaches. The Memphis team is coached by former NFL head coach and Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary.

“I’m very excited about Trevon and this opportunity for him,” Jackson said. “This league is a really good league with great coaches and players and I’m looking forward to watching him make his mark.”

But there’s still a lot of time between now and February when games are played and Smith wants to make sure his body is well conditioned for what’s happening at the next level.

Smith has been training at TGMC’s Community Sports Institute and trainer Patrick Labat. Smith said the workouts he’s been doing are detail-oriented. He said the hard work will make sure that he’s in the best shape of his life — both mentally and physically — when he reports to Memphis for the next season.

When a little spare time is available, Smith has also helped with his alma mater Gators, working as a volunteer coach for the South Terrebonne program.

“I have been working more on the fundamentals of things,” Smith said. “Not really taking it easy, but just healing the body up to go hard when camp gets closer. I’m also working to better myself as a person and as an all-around receiver.”

He has a good example to follow. Smith is close personal friends with fellow Houma native and NFL player, Elijah McGuire, with the New York Jets.

Smith called McGuire his brother, adding that the two talk all of the time. Now, Smith can join him at the next level and give Houma another feel-good story of athletic prowess — another example that great things are possible to those who persevere and never give up.

“Eli is like my brother,” Smith said. “He congratulated me on the great accomplishment and gave me a couple of things to be looking forward to. Every time we talk, it’s rarely about football. We’re brothers first, football second.

“You know, coming out of South Terrebonne, I’ve always thought this was possible. Since my recreation days, I knew it was possible. There was never a doubt in my mind at all.” •

Trevon Smith

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