Photo by Sarah Finnegan
Oak Mountain quarterback Evan Smith (9) throws the ball during a game against Pelham on Sept. 28.
Evan Smith once wanted to play the piano, and he dislikes long drives.
These unique facts are fitting, because the Oak Mountain High School freshman quarterback is as smooth as a Beethoven composition and moves his team down the field as quickly as possible.
Smith, who turned 15 in September, has been the talk of the town for the Eagles. He burst onto the scene in the season opener against Chelsea, a 42-9 win. He threw for 92 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 98 yards and two more scores.
The freshman completed 6-of-11 passes for 87 yards and rushed 12 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns in a back-and-forth contest at Hewitt-Trussville. In a loss at Thompson on Sept. 14, he completed 3-of-6 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown and rushed 16 times for 199 yards and two touchdowns.
“I would describe my game as a dual-threat quarterback because of my ability to run and throw,” Smith said.
Class 7A is becoming increasingly aware of this fact. The 5-foot-10 signal caller had a tough night against a fast Hoover defense on Sept. 21, but he still rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown on eight carries. A lot of young players would fold against a team such as Hoover. Smith hung in there.
“He’s a heady kid,” said Oak Mountain head coach Cris Bell. “He just turned 15 and plays well above his years. He’s going to be a good one out here. Just a fantastic kid, a straight-A student, high character. He’s just everything you want in a young man representing your program.”
Said Eagles running back Luke Percer: “Even as a freshman, he is getting onto our seniors about doing the little things right. He’s very humble and hardworking. He can be as good as he wants to be. If he keeps a level head and working to get better every day, he could be one of the best athletes to come out of Oak Mountain.”
Smith plans to do just that. He said his high school goals are to graduate with a 4.0 grade-point average or higher and play football or basketball collegiately. His ultimate dream is to become a professional in either.
“If that doesn’t pan out, then I would love to be involved in sports or help others who are less fortunate,” he said. “I will achieve it by giving 100 percent in everything I do.”
Smith is quite the athlete, but not just on the gridiron. He excels on the hardwood, too. Last Memorial Day, he was playing in an Atlanta basketball tournament when he was pushed in midair. He broke his tibia and fibula.
He considered quitting football “until I just couldn’t,” Smith said. He wanted to play the sports he loves with his friends, so he pushed himself to get back to 100 percent. After coming back from his injury, his team won the Metro Tournament, finishing with a perfect 27-0 record. Smith averaged 15 points per game. It wasn’t the first time Smith broke bones. He’s broken his leg twice and his arm once. He always comes back strong.
“The most important thing to me is to have 100 percent faith in God,” Smith said. “My family is also extremely important to me because they are there whenever I need them, and I know they have my back.”
Oak Mountain is in a challenging region in football, likely the toughest. He relishes that.
“I want my legacy to be that player who played for more than himself, but his family and every game gave 110 percent,” he said. “Also, to be that person everyone looks up to in the community and can talk to whenever.”
