KNOXVILLE – Trey Smith surrounded himself with family in making his decision to return for his senior season as an offensive lineman for the University of Tennessee.
After announcing his choice last Thursday and then discussing the specifics, Smith’s trusty support group was waiting for him. They reconvened over a less pressing issue – where to go for lunch – after the event was finished.
I took in this sight before leaving UT’s Ray and Lucy Hand Digital Studio. But I didn’t do it justice in my coverage that day. There simply was too much to unpack in this space. Smith’s decision was a stunner in the context of his history of blood clots and the NFL potential of a 6-foot-6, 325-pound guard who had earned All-SEC recognition as a junior.
Furthermore, accompanying events continued to unfold that day. Reports that Georgia offensive lineman Cade Mays was transferring to UT were substantiated later that day. His impended arrival had to be considered in connection with Smith’s decision.
The sight of Smith and his family has lingered, however. Upon further review, I believe that Smith’s upbringing rates with his talent in impacting Tennessee’s continued football success.
UT coach Jeremy Pruitt already has seen the ripple effect. Smith stood fast while the Vols stumbled at the season’s start, thereby becoming an advocate for the coaching staff. His faith and fortitude were as important to his personal progress as his physical attributes, maybe more so considering his inability to participate in contact workouts.
His personal saga hasn’t unfolded in a vacuum either. He is a real-life example for his teammates, many of whom are younger and impressionable. Smith will carry even more weight for next season, given the departure of several key seniors.
Smith used the term “unfinished business” in reference to next season. Probably no coincidence that quarterback Jarrett Guarantano used the same expression this week in a social media post alluding to his final season.
“It starts with his leadership,” Pruitt said. “You saw the type of person he is, the family that he comes from and his values and all of his intangibles while he was standing at the podium.
“Take away the athletic ability, which is phenomenal, I’m just talking about his makeup and who he is. It is contagious and it’s going to give him an opportunity to finish what he has started and that is something that he is looking forward to doing.”
Smith did do justice to the family component of his decision. He spoke with great reverence and emotion about his late mother Dorsetta, and the role she continued to play in this process. He was honoring her wish in deciding to finish work toward his degree.
“It is just one of the things she emphasized while growing up,” he said. “I have to get an education. It is something nobody can ever take away from me. It is one of my goals in life – to get an education, get my degree and play in the NFL.”
Of everyone else in his support group, he said: “We’re a spiritual family. We took a lot of time to pray and think about it. We did our proper research to make sure it was the right decision. We came together and made a decision.”
They huddle up well. Believe me, it’s a heartwarming sight.
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Dan Fleser is a 1980 graduate of the University of Missouri who covered University of Tennessee athletics for the Knoxville News Sentinel from 1988-2019. He may be reached at danfleser3@gmail.com