Lafayette wide receiver Thomas Smith, a rising senior, has received a scholarship off to play football for Virginia Tech, Lafayette head coach Andy Linn said on Thursday.
Linn said that Smith, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound wide receiver, received an offer from Tech earlier this week, days after attending a one-day camp in Blacksburg on Saturday. Linn said indications are that Smith will accept the scholarship offer, but will likely attend Fork Union Military Academy for a semester before moving on to Tech in January 2013.
Linn said that Smith is a year younger than most high school seniors, so the plan all along has been for him to play at a prep school for a semester after graduating high school. Linn said that Tech coaches are encouraging that plan.
"I think this scenario perfect, because he needs that time to catch up maturity-wise," Linn said. "I think this was meant to be.
"Thomas loves it at Virginia Tech."
Smith said that while Hokies' assistant Curt Newsome had indicated a scholarship offer might be forthcoming, he is "surprised" that it came this early in the process.
"I'll probably accept it, but I want to talk to my parents first and go over everything," Smith said Thursday. "I like Texas a lot, but their recruiting class is pretty much set.
"Virginia Tech is right there at the top of my list, so I'm very humbled and honored they want me."
Smith caught 27 passes for 558 yards as a junior, despite not playing receiver for nearly three games because of a broken hand. One of the Bay Rivers District's strongest and most athletic players, Smith has been clocked at 4.53 in the 40.
Thanks to @hasorey for the tip.
