Indiana Football’s season is rapidly approaching, with training camp heading into week three. Indiana’s secondary was headlined by D’Angelo Ponds the last few seasons, but now Indiana will have to find a unique skill set from another player. Zachary Smith hasn’t touched the field in an Indiana jersey, but he has the build to be a player to watch out for in the team’s future.
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 175 pounds
Hometown: Union City, Georgia
Class/Position: Second year/ Defensive Back
Zachary Smith was a three-star recruit out of high school, where he placed on the first-team All-Region. He snagged seven interceptions, 20 tackles, and 10 pass breakups. As a junior, he totaled eight interceptions, which led the entire state of Georgia. He is a natural ball hawk.
Smith was overlooked by many teams in his region, with Auburn being the only SEC school to even give him an offer. He was completely undervalued because of his size, but Indiana sees something special in players like him. Bryant Haines was able to turn a 5’8”, 180-pound corner into the best lockdown defensive back in the nation. Who is to say that Zachary Smith couldn’t be the next D’Angelo Ponds?
Smith was unable to see the field in his first year, but will likely get some playing time this season. He will need to excel in whatever snaps he gets in order to climb up the ladder in what is a young but very talented defensive back room. Look for Smith to make a name for himself in Indiana’s “garbage time” minutes this season.
The Hoosier Huddle Countdown to Kickoff continues every day, so be sure to check back often for the latest profile piece!
Discover more from Hoosier Huddle
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.