Smith’s star continues to grow

Folks in the Houma-Thibodaux area know about Terrebonne rising junior lineman Maason Smith.

But now, the rest of the country has been introduced to him, as well.

Smith has continued to soar through recruiting rankings in recent weeks — literally one of the hottest prospects in the country for the Class of 2021.

This past week, 24/7 Sports released an updated list of recruiting rankings for the 2021 recruiting class and Smith has soared into a position of prominence — one of the biggest leaps in the country for any player.

Smith is now a high-end 4-star prospect with a chance to earn his fifth star (the highest ranking) in the following weeks. He’s also the No. 2 player in Louisiana for the 2021 recruiting class behind just Zachary High School receiver Chris Hilton.

Smith said the fast climb and rise to stardom is something he didn’t see coming, but is motivating him to get better every day.

“It’s a dream come true,” Smith told The Times of the rise. “But I’m never satisfied. There’s still work to be done.”

Smith’s climb has come quick.

Going into last season, he was mostly a hidden gem — known only to coaches on the Terrebonne staff.

But he became hard to hide — literally — because of his raw size, but also because of his ability.

Smith is massive. He stands 6-feet, 5-inches and weighs 299 pounds.

But he’s not just a big, clumsy body.

He can move.

Part of the reason for Smith’s ascent is his performance at camps around the country. He’s proven the ability to consistently go through drills like a far smaller player, while also holding the power of a lineman.

“I think what you love most about a kid like that is the work ethic,” Terrebonne coach Gary Hill said. “He’s shown a consistent willingness to work, be a team player and do all of the things that he has to do to get better. You love to see that. He’s getting the attention and the recognition and that’s great. But he’s earning it through his commitment to his craft and our team.”

Smith has a 4.69-second shuttle time and a 22.2-inch vertical leap.

His 40-time is something he’s working on daily, but he’s clocked at 5.6-seconds.

On the field, Smith is evolving into a force.

As a sophomore, he posted 59 tackles (12 for a loss), 2 sacks and two pass breakups — his first season getting starting reps at the varsity level.

At The Opening’s Regional Camp in New Orleans, Smith was named the Defensive Lineman MVP — a feather in his cap that’s gone a long way in allowing him to start getting the offers and accolades he’s received.

Smith now has 19 scholarship offers — a list that will likely be outdated by the time this newspaper hits the stands.

His offer list includes LSU, Alabama, Auburn, Florida and others — a who’s who of national powers.

“It’s definitely crazy,” Smith said of his fast rise. “To say that I wasn’t in the rankings and now, I’m in the Top 50 in the country, it’s incredible. At this same time last year, I had 0 scholarships and now, I have 19. It’s a blessing.”

But Smith said at the end of the day, “rankings don’t mean anything,” and his focus is on getting better and making sure that colleges are getting an elite-level player.

Smith said he’s going to be working tirelessly over the summer to improve and get better for his team.

The prospect said he believes Terrebonne has a chance to make it to the Superdome next season — a goal they narrowly missed last season when they reached the Class 5A State Quarterfinals.

Those team-related goals, Smith said, are the things he’s chasing most, because he knows that if he plays well for the Tigers, all of his recruitment will take care of itself.

“It’s not really hard for me to stay grounded,” Smith said. “I’ve never been one to gloat and brag. My dad, mom and stepmom have taught me well. As far as school ball, that’s all part of the process for me. It’ll be fun to play with my best friends and try to get us a state championship.” •

Maason SmithG SPORTS

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