BROOKSVILLE – Hernando County is giving us something special this season with a pair of Smith’s at the running back positions slicing defenses like a sharp knife. The two meet this week when their teams Nature Coast and Brooksville-Central meet in their district opener. They’re both currently in the top five in the state of Florida in rushing and are already matching totals from their entire seasons through the first three weeks of the 2015 campaign. The pair have contrasting styles that allow them to be productive so here now is a closer look at Deshawn Smith of Nature Coast Tech and De’vonta Smith of Brooksville-Central.
RB/CB, Deshawn Smith (5-8/185) – Nature Coast Tech (Class of 2016)
Smith plays cornerback on defense and recorded 33 tackles in 2014 and has five this season thus far, but his prowess for carrying the pigskin is what’s going to get college coaches’ attentions–and sooner rather than later if this pace keeps up. As a freshman, Deshawn rushed for just 66 yards during the Sharks 6-4 season, but he was behind stud Matt Breida–who, is a pretty darn good back in his own right as evidenced by his body of work at Georgia Southern the past two seasons.
As a sophomore, Smith started getting more burn and tallied 719 yards on 122 carries and nine touchdowns while the Sharks managed just a 4-6 record in 2013. Last season as a junior, Smith began to light the scoreboards up and opposing defenses totaling 1,498 yards on just 148 carries–good for 10 yards per carry and 14 touchdowns. Smith finished the season with 1,791 All-Purpose yards when you factor in his 9 receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown plus his KR/PR duties.
This season through the first three games, Deshawn is the #3 rusher in the state of Florida with 674 yards on 53 carries good for an average of 13 yards per carry and 224 yards per game and 12 touchdowns. That’s just three scores shy of his entire total from last season through the first third of this season.
The scouting report on Smith’s skills-set aside from being a massively productive player is that he’s got crazy elusiveness and balance to go with solid hands and a fantastic work ethic. Nature Coast Tech is 3-0 this season.
RB/CB, De’vonta Smith (5-11/185) – Brooksville Central (Class of 2017)
This Smith has shown he can produce at the corner position tallying 35 tackles with five for losses on the young season after posting just eleven during the 2014 season in which he was a sophomore in his first full-season on varsity. The Bears were just 2-8 last season, but Smith did his best to help the cause with 833 yards on 154 carries and five touchdowns. Smith caught 9 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown for the Bears last season as well. When you add his KR/PR yardage, Smith was good for 1,123 All-Purpose last season and looks to smash that mark this season.
This season De’vonta checks-in after three weeks of play as the #4 rusher in the state JUST behind his counterpart this week and the aforementioned Deshawn Smith. The junior has racked-up 619 yards on 56 carries and six touchdowns–already tying his total number of scores from last season.
The scouting report on this young man is that his “game speed” is really good and he runs physically with every bit of that 5-11/185-pound frame. He will look to help his Central squad erase the six-game losing streak that the Bears are currently facing against Nature Coast this Friday night.