Area football standout to make college choice on ESPN

Wayne High School senior receiver L’Christian “Blue” Smith announced on Twitter Wednesday afternoon that he’ll verbally commit to play college football during the season opener on Sunday, Aug. 27 at Pine-Richland in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania.

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Located about 12 miles north of Pittsburgh, the 1 p.m. game will be televised live on ESPN and is the finale of the seven-game GEICO ESPN High School Football Kickoff that also will have games televised on ESPN2 and ESPNU from Aug. 25-27.

Listed at 6 feet 5 and 215 pounds last season, Smith is destined to be among the most productive receivers in area history. In three seasons he’s had a total of 109 catches for 2,323 yards (21.3 per catch) and scored 28 touchdowns. He’s also among the state’s best front-liners in basketball.

That size and two-sport athleticism quickly gained the attention of college staffs, for both sports. He landed his initial football offer from the University of Kentucky as a freshman. Since then he’s vaulted to the state’s top five players regardless of position by most recruiting services and has multiple offers, including from Ohio State, Michigan, Tennessee, Alabama and Notre Dame.

»ALL-TIME BEST: Top 7 Warriors in Wayne football

Smith broke into Wayne’s lineup as a freshman opposite then-senior standout receiver Ahmad Wagner, who was All-Ohio that season after not playing football as a junior. Wagner is a junior on the Iowa basketball team.

Smith’s breakout football season was as a sophomore when he had 54 catches for 1,311 yards and scored 17 TDs. Wayne (14-1) lost its second straight Division I state championship to Lakewood St. Edward to end that season, 45-35.

»ESPN SPOTLIGHT: Wayne takes its place in nationally televised lineup

Last season Smith again led the Warriors with 43 catches for 736 yards and nine TDs. That also coincided with a QB switch to then-sophomore Rashad McKee, who also is shooting up on the recruiting radar after guiding the Warriors to an 11-1-1 season.

Smith also was a key freshman sub on Wayne’s D-I state title basketball team in 2015. He averaged a second-best 14.7 points and team high 8.9 rebounds as a sophomore and posted team highs of 17.0 points and 10.0 rebounds as a junior.

»L’CHRISTIAN “BLUE” SMITH

Personal: 6-5, 215, WR

Junior: 43 catches, 736 yards, 9 TDs.

Sophomore: 54 catches, 1311 yards, 17 TDs.

Freshman: 12 catches, 276 yards, 2 TDs.

Total: 109 catches, 2323 yards, 28 TDs.

That has helped Wayne maintain its lofty Greater Western Ohio Conference status in basketball to go with football. Wayne has since switched boys basketball coaches. Travis Twice resigned as the Warriors boys coach last spring to succeed Sonya Miller as Wayne’s girls coach. Former Dayton men’s assistant Kevin Kuwik succeeds Trice as Wayne’s boys basketball coach.

Smith has not announced if he’ll play basketball as a senior or graduate early.

Wayne senior teammate Alex Reigelsperger, a defensive end, verbally committed to Kentucky last spring. Another Wayne senior, Antwuan Johnson, is a much sought-after linebacker. He is attending his third school in as many seasons, having played at Springfield as a sophomore, Dunbar as a junior and then transferring to Wayne. He de-committed to Michigan.

The high school football preseason begins on Monday. Most area teams will play their season openers on Friday, Aug. 25.

CLASS OF 2018 FOOTBALL COMMITS

Tyler Bentley, DL, Lakota West / Kentucky

Isaiah Bowser, RB, Sidney / Northwestern

John Dirksen, OL, Marion Local / Notre Dame

Ra’veion “Shocka” Hargrove, RB, Trotwood-Madison / Bowling Green State

Jack McCrory, RB, Spg. Shawnee / Ohio

Alex Reigelsperger, DE, Wayne / Kentucky

Devan Rogers, DT, Sidney / Toledo

Jadon Rucker-Furlow, DB, Belmont / Miami

Tavion Thomas, RB, Dunbar / Oklahoma

Malik Vann, Fairfield DL / Cincinnati

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