Coach on Tyanthony Smith: “His closing speed is unreal”

During a visit to Jasper High Monday to see On3 Industry Ranking 4-star Tyanthony Smith it was easy to see how highly he is thought of by the Bulldogs staff.

Jasper High head coach Kendrick Crumedy played at Jasper High, grew up in Jasper and knows the talent that has come through the area as well as anyone.

The former Manvel High offensive coordinator has also been around plenty of talented players outside of Jasper High. So when Crumedy speaks on his 6-foot-1, 210-pound standout linebacker, it’s easy to listen and soak in everything he has to say.

Following the Bulldogs athletic period workout, Coach Crumedy took some time to sit down and talk about Smith.

Crumedy on Tyanthony Smith

Question: What are your overall thoughts on Tyanthony Smith?

Coach Crumedy: “I think he’s unique. He’s long and rangy. Could play inside backer. Could play outside backer. He’s really, really good in the pass game. What stands out for me the most is his ability to get to the football. His closing speed is unreal. There were a couple of games this year I’m watching this year yelling on the headset when I said we didn’t have an edge to play here because we were doing some coverage things or creeper blitzes, and he goes from MIKE backer to set the edge when they are trying to run outside zone. He sets the edge from MIKE backer, makes them bounce outside and then goes to make the tackle. There was another play when the opponent throws a swing pass, and he tracks the running back down instantly. I’m thinking the back is uncovered because we are playing man coverage, and he’s able to run a guy down on the sideline. He’s unique because he can do a lot of things naturally. A natural blitzer. He’s becoming a better communicator. He’s doing everything he’s supposed to be doing on the football field, and he’s getting really strong. He hadn’t really had an off-season until this year. I think he tested after our first round at over 400 on squat, and his bench went up 30 or 40 pounds since the summer. You can see his frame is developing, and he’s starting to look strong. He has those long levers.”

Question: He does have long arms. How will that help him at the next level in your estimation?

Coach Crumedy: “His long arms are going to give him the ability to be an edge player because he can keep people off of him. He’s built for it. He doesn’t have to be 6-6. He’s going to be 6-2 with a 6-7 wingspan, and now you can play as an edge player. Your strong, long arms, can drop into coverage, blitz and set the edge. He has a unique frame that will allow him to do some things that make him an interesting player.”

Question: Is he a football sponge? Could you also see him playing MIKE and calling a defense one day?

Coach Crumedy: “Yes he is. Right now for us, he’s actually calling the defense for us in the 7-on-7 stuff. We are giving him a lot of freedom to be involved. He’s a National Honor Society kid. He has the brain and the smarts to do it. He could play MIKE, but he would be a long MIKE. You don’t normally see a guy with a 6-7 wingspan playing that spot. But he is going to play MIKE for us, and I think he could play MIKE in college.”

Smith by the numbers

Checks in a shade over 6-foot-1 without shoes on. Weighs right around 210-pounds. Has a 6-foot-7 wingspan with 9.5 inch hands.

Smith tallied 112 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four pass break ups, two sacks and one forced fumble in eight games. He sat out the first three games of the season after recovering fomr a knee injury during basketball season.

The post Coach on Tyanthony Smith: “His closing speed is unreal” appeared first on On3.