Jake Smith (American football)

Jake Smith
Arizona State Sun Devils – No. 8
PositionWide receiver
Class
Redshirt
Redshirt
Senior
MajorAdvertising
Personal information
Born: (2001-01-05) January 5, 2001 (age 23)
Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career history
College
High schoolNotre Dame Prep
(Scottsdale, Arizona)
Career highlights and awards

Jake Smith (born January 5, 2001) is an American college football wide receiver who plays for the Arizona State Sun Devils. He previously played for the Texas Longhorns and USC Trojans.

Early life

Smith grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona and attended Notre Dame Preparatory High School. Smith compiled 2,538 all purpose yards in his junior season, including 1,135 rushing and 1,055 receiving and scored 28 total touchdowns and was named first team All-Arizona as an all-purpose player.[1][2] As a senior, he amassed 2,349 all-purpose yards with 1,070 yards receiving and 741 rushing and 39 total touchdowns and also punted 25 times for 1,008 yards and recorded 20 tackles with 4.5 sacks on defense.[3] Smith was named first team All-State and the Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year and the Gatorade National Football Player of the Year and was invited to play in the 2019 Under Amour All-America Game.[4][5][6] He was also named the Arizona Boys Athlete of the Year by The Arizona Republic.[7] Smith was rated a four-star recruit and committed to play college football at Texas during the summer going into his senior year over an offer from USC and after considering offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson and Texas A&M.[8]

College career

Smith played in all 13 of Texas's games in his true freshman season and caught 25 passes for 274 yards and six touchdowns.[9] His six touchdown receptions were the second-most by a freshman in school history behind Roy Williams' eight in 2000.[10] Smith set season-highs with six catches, 75 yards and two touchdowns on September 14, 2019 against Rice.[11]

Smith missed the opening game of his sophomore year due to illness, but returned to the field the next week against TCU.[12] Smith was the Longhorns' leading receiver with seven receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown reception in the fourth quarter in the team's 41-34 overtime win over sixth-ranked Oklahoma State.[13] Smith finished the season with 23 receptions for 294 yards and three touchdowns.[14]

After his sophomore year Smith announced his intent to transfer from Texas.[15] He ultimately committed to play at USC.[16] Smith missed the 2021 season due to a foot injury. Following the season, he was no longer listed on USC's roster.[17] Smith sat out the 2022 season while still enrolled at USC and transferred to Arizona State.[18] He was denied eligibility to play for the Sun Devils immediately by the NCAA because he had not finished his undergraduate degree before transferring a second time.[19]

References

  1. ^ Alvira, Zach (October 4, 2018). "Jake Smith to represent Notre Dame Saints on U.S. stage". East Valley Tribune. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  2. ^ "Notre Dame Prep WR/RB Jake Smith commits to Texas". The Arizona Republic. September 9, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  3. ^ "Arizona receiver Smith highlights Texas recruiting class". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. December 19, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  4. ^ Moyle, Nick (December 12, 2018). "Texas commit Jake Smith named Gatorade National Player of the Year". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  5. ^ Moyle, Nick (June 22, 2019). "New Texas receiver Jake Smith can do it all". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  6. ^ Litmen, Jake (December 11, 2018). "Texas Commit Jake Smith Named Gatorade National High School Football Player of the Year". SI.com. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  7. ^ "azcentral Boys Athlete of the Year: Jake Smith". The Arizona Republic. June 14, 2019. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  8. ^ Craven, Mike (August 28, 2018). "The Dotted Line: Jordan Shipley 2.0? Texas commit Jake Smith is planning on it". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  9. ^ Moyle, Nick (September 10, 2020). "Texas WR Jake Smith will be held out of season opener". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  10. ^ Howe, Jeff (May 31, 2020). "Over the hump, the future looks as bright as ever for Jake Smith". 247Sports.com. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  11. ^ Livengood, Paul (October 2, 2019). "Texas freshman's 'freakish athletic ability' sparks Longhorns offense to open 2019 season". KVUE. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  12. ^ "Texas WR Jake Smith expected to make season debut vs. TCU". Houston Chronicle. September 28, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  13. ^ Moyle, Nick (November 6, 2020). "Jake Smith becoming a go-to receiver for Texas". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  14. ^ Bohls, Kirk (December 28, 2020). "Bohls: Revisiting my preseason Texas predictions, even the wrong ones". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  15. ^ "Texas receiver Jake Smith enters name in transfer portal". Houston Chronicle. June 22, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  16. ^ Kercheval, Ben (July 6, 2021). "Ex-Texas WR Jake Smith transferring to USC as Trojans pick up fourth Longhorns transfer entering 2021 season". CBS Sports. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  17. ^ Mumme, CJ (March 24, 2022). "Former Longhorn WR Jake Smith no longer listed on USC's roster". Longhorns Wire. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  18. ^ Karpman, Chris (December 10, 2022). "Sources: Local WR product Jake Smith planning to suit up for Sun Devils". 247Sports.com. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  19. ^ Cluff, Jeremy (August 10, 2023). "NCAA slammed for denying Arizona State football player Jake Smith's transfer appeal". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 4, 2023.