Blue White Illustrated

then made a 8nal decision. Can you take me through the time period a;er that visit up through when you made the decision? SMITH We really enjoyed the o:cial visit. We went out there and we were re- ally just saying, OK, we know there's going to come a time when we've got to make this decision so that I can focus on my senior year. That's how we started wrapping up the whole process. Basi- cally we each just wrote down some things we liked about each school and what each of us didn't like about each school and we went from there. We looked at rosters, talked to people and just got as much information to make sure we made the best decision possible. BWI You're going to enroll early. Can you tell me about what went into that decision, and what does your school re- quire of you in order to do that? SMITH Really, it's just making sure you have all of your core classes taken care of, which I do. Going into next semester I only have two classes that I really need to complete. Then I'm good. I'm out. So that was really a big thing of not having to go the full year knowing that I didn't have to. Also going into college early, getting into the swing of the academics and how practice and everything goes and getting the experience of being a college athlete and student, that was a big thing. BWI What are the coaches telling you as far which linebacker spot you might play? Then if you can, describe your skill set for me and how that lends itself to the position you might play down the road. SMITH They haven't told me a speci8c linebacker spot because [they want to see] how diverse I am as far as being on the 8eld and doing multiple things, so I'm not limited at all as far as what posi- tion I could play because of how quick I am in making my decisions, being able to close distance and being able to travel sideline to sideline making plays. BWI Could you see yourself playing de- fensive end, or are you strictly a line- backer? SMITH Strictly linebacker. BWI This recruiting class is starting to 8ll up pretty quickly. Can you tell me about some of these relationships that you are building and just your thoughts on how this class as a whole is coming together? SMITH We're already planning. We have a big group text message and we're already talking every day, making moves for when we come in. We want to be the best and we want to make a run in col- lege football. I'm pretty sure judging by the amount of work we all put in every day, that's doable. BWII What can teammates, coaches and fans expect from you over the next three, four or 8ve years? You have big goals on and o9 the 8eld. Can you o9er a short preview? SMITH They can expect my full e9ort on the 8eld, and the same o9 the 8eld. They can expect full e9ort as far as me completing my goal in the criminology major with a minor in forensics. ■ This year's Big 33 Classic was not a memorable one for Pennsylvania, which fell to Maryland, 9-6, on June 16 at Speed Ebersole Stadium in Harrisburg. But even though their offense managed only a pair of field goals, the Pennsylvanians offered a bit of encouragement to Penn State fans, as both of those makes were by invited walk-on kicker Vlad Hilling. Hilling, who enrolled at Penn State in June after hitting 20 of 27 field goals and 101 of 104 PATs in a three-year career at Hollidaysburg, kicked a 20-yarder in the first quarter to open the scoring and fol- lowed it up with a 56-yarder in the sec- ond. The latter kick was the longest in the 61-year history of the all-star game. Hilling was named Pennsylvania's MVP, even though he didn't play in the second half due to an apparently minor knee in- jury he suffered when he was hit after his record-setting kick. The Big 33 game was once a rite of pas- sage for many of Penn State's in-state recruits, but with players increasingly apt to enroll early in college, the blue- and-white presence has diminished in recent years. This year, only two schol- arship players from Penn State's incom- ing class took part in the game: wideout Jahan Dotson and linebacker Charlie Katshir. Dotson's receiving stats were modest – two catches for 3 yards – but he was re- sponsible for one of Pennsylvania's few long-gainers of the evening, as he com- pleted a 46-yard pass to Jose Barbon on a gadget play late in the third quarter. The reception gave Pennsylvania a chance to break a 6-6 tie, but quarterback Luke Emge was intercepted on second-and- goal, ending the red zone threat. Maryland won on a 37-yard field goal by Pitt-bound kicker Cooper McGeehan with 10.5 seconds left. It was only the second time in the past seven years that Maryland defeated Pennsylvania in the Big 33 Classic. ■ Hilling shines for Pa. in Big 33 Classic

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