By Damian Mitchell
Tribune Sports
CHATTANOOGA, TENN.— Former Hewitt-Trussville defensive tackle Christian Smith was granted his release to transfer from Tennessee Tech and has enrolled at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.
As a player for Hewitt-Trussville, Smith was an all-state selection for the Huskies and also participated in the 2016 Alabama-Mississippi all-star game.
Smith signed to play football for Tennessee Tech after graduating in 2017 and started six games as a true freshman but was out the remainder of the season with a hip injury.
The decision transfer was made after a coaching change at Tennessee Tech and Smith felt that the best decision was to transfer under a new program.
Smith was again on the recruiting trail with coaches from Arizona, Arizona State, and Louisiana-Monroe among others in contact with him.
His father, Greg, believes he made the right decision.
“I’ve always been proud of him and let him make his own choices,” he said. “He chose Chattanooga and the family is behind him all the way.”
Under NCAA transfer rules Smith will have to sit out the 2018 season but will be eligible to play in 2019 as a redshirt sophomore for the Mocs as they open their 2019 schedule against the Tennessee Volunteers.