By Erik Harris
TRUSSVILLE – Hewitt-Trussville has added an all-state defensive line transfer from Leeds High School to its roster, and the highly-touted newcomer received some high praise from his former head coach at the Jefferson-Shelby high school football media days.
“We lost Christian Smith, who transferred to Hewitt-Trussville,” Leeds head football coach Keith Etheredge said.
In only his sophomore season for the Green Wave, Smith exploded onto the scene as an Alabama High School Athletic Association second team Class 4A All-State player. Leeds finished 14-1 while claiming the Class 4A state championship last year.
Although the interior defensive lineman is making the jump from Class 4A to Class 7A, Etheredge sees no reason why Smith can’t continue his high level of play in 2015.
“He’ll be fine. He’s not going to skip a beat; he’ll do a great job,” Etheredge said. “I guarantee when they lace it up for their first game, he’ll be out there starting. He’s that type of player and he’ll be playing on Saturdays.”
According to Smith, he secured over 100 tackles last season to go along with 11 quarterback sacks. His ability on the field is confirmed by that lengthy stat line.
“Christian’s a great football player. He’s a big kid, plugger, has good athletic ability. He’s 6-foot-2, 270 [pounds] and a great kid, so I wish him the best,” Etheredge said.
Along with praising Smith’s on-field talent, Etheredge spoke highly of his former player off the field.
“He’s a great young man and Trussville’s got a good football player.”