By TIM HYDEN, CJ Correspondent
The success of the 2009 Somerset High School football campaign contin-ues to reap benefits for the team’s seniors. On Monday, 6-5 300-pound offensive lineman Cody Smith became the second Briar Jumper this spring to become a Lindsey Wilson Blue Raider.
Smith, along with fellow Lindsey Wilson signee Billy Roberts, anchored the line of scrimmage for Coach Rob Lucas and the Briar Jumpers this season. His steady play was rewarded by being named All-County. His importance to the team may have gone unnoticed to the casual fan, but his contributions enabled an inexperienced backfield to grow and mature week by week, as Smith and his colleagues in the trenches carved holes in the opposing defenses. As a result, the 2009 team was as successful as any in school history.
“I enjoy being an offensive lineman,” said Smith. “It doesn’t get the publicity that being a star quarterback or running back gets, but it’s rewarding to get in there in the trenches and do the dirty work it takes to let the stars shine their brightest. Your coaches and your teammates know how valuable you are to the team, and it’s enough to know that you have their respect. If you’re a hero as a lineman, you’re a silent hero, which is the best kind.”
For Lindsey Wilson and Coach Chris Oliver, Smith’s recruitment solidifies an incoming freshman class that is looking to revive Blue Raider football after a 75-year hiatus.
“With Cody, just like with Billy Roberts, we love the dedication he shows to the game and the background he’s coming from,” said Oliver. “Cody comes from a great Briar Jumper program that made it to the finals, and these kids from Somerset have all been well coached in the game of football. Cody’s a high character guy from a tremendous family. And he’s going to be one of our three or four biggest guys on the team. I don’t think there’s any doubt that his best football is yet to come.”
Oliver, the former Offensive Coordinator at Ohio Dominican, says Somerset’s offensive scheme may give Smith a familiarity with the skills needed to excel in the Blue Raiders offense.
“There are some differences between our scheme and Somerset’s,” said Oliver, “but they are not like night and day. We will throw the ball a lot, but will look to show good balance. Our lineman will have to operate in open space a lot, and in these ways Cody should fit right in. These are approaches he’s familiar with from high school.”
Lucas says that Smith grew progressively better over his three years under Coach Jay Cobb, before going to an even higher level of play as a senior.
“Cody improved year in and year out,” said Lucas. “He has exceptional footwork for a man of his size, and he has a great work ethic. We put him at left tackle and didn’t have to worry about Erik’s (Manning) blind side on passes. He’s a good run blocker, but with his size and reach, what he excels at most is pass blocking.
“To be perfectly honest, I feel like Lindsey Wilson is getting a real steal by signing Cody Smith. As he continues to improve and grow into his huge frame, there’s really no telling how good he’ll be. That’s how highly we think of the young man. And I feel the same way about Billy Roberts. To be able to land two quality young men like that is a real bonus for Coach Oliver and a tribute to how good a job he’s doing trying to get that program off the ground there at Lindsey Wilson.”
Smith had an opportunity to make a bigger splash on the recruiting scene by signing with a higher profile school. His final decision came down to either Lindsey Wilson or Morehead State. But he says he just felt more comfortable on the Columbia campus, and wanted to be a part of starting a new legacy.
“When I took the tour of the campus it just felt like a place that I could call home,” said Smith. “It’s a place where I can feel comfortable and continue my education. And the start up connection I had with the coaching staff reminded me a lot of what I felt with our high school coaches at Somerset, and that always meant a lot to me.”
Having a former teammate in Roberts just adds to the comfort for Smith.
“It wasn’t the reason I chose Lindsey, but it was a definite bonus to play next to Billy some more,” said Smith. “We’ve played together for six or seven years and you develop a certain ‘football brotherhood’ after you’ve been together that long. Plus, we’ll have someone to look out for each other if we start to get out of line or start to stray a bit in our classes. We can hold each other accountable.”
Smith signed his letter of intent in a ceremony held at the Somerset High School Library on Monday, March 8. He was joined at the signing by his parents Richard and Rhonda Smith, and his sister Rachel.
