Blue White Illustrated

THE BIG PUSH A year of prep school pays off for lionhearted defensive back Anthony Smith BY RYAN SNYDER Blue White Illustrated wo years ago, Anthony Smith would have never thought a school like Penn State would eventually offer him a scholarship. The native of Randolph, N.J., suspected that he had the potential to compete for a school in the Football Bowl Subdivision. But to play in the Big Ten, and in one of the biggest stadiums in the world? Smith would be the first to admit that such skyhigh hopes were more wish than reality. Coming out of high school at Pope John XXIII, Smith earned looks from a few Football Championship Subdivision schools. While grateful for the opportunity, he knew he could do better, so he decided to attend prep school. However, in the spring of 2012, between the end of his high school career and the start of his prep season at Valley Forge Military Academy, Smith made an even better decision. "I knew I had to get ahead somehow," he said. "So last year I took the opportunity to go down to Phoenix during spring break and train with Will Sullivan at Fischer Sports. That really helped me out. I was only down there for a week, but he was real technical, really took his time to explain why different things make a difference." For more background on Sullivan, all you need to know is that Darrelle Revis – arguably the best cornerback in the NFL – trusted Sullivan to be his personal trainer during the NFL lockout. In fact, several NFL players were training with Sullivan the same week that Smith was visiting the facility, giving him a chance to pick up on the little T THE SMITH FILE S TAT I S T I C S Finished with seven career interceptions... Has a 4.5second 40-yard dash and 32-inch vertical leap HONORS Was a 2011 second-team All-West Jersey selection by the Newark Star Ledger and a first-team All-Area choice by the New Jersey Herald at Pope John XXIII in Sussex County, N.J. ... Was named Valley Forge 2012 Team MVP things that truly make a difference in his play. "The big thing for me was just seeing what it takes to put yourself in a position to take your game up a notch," Smith said. "Whenever you're working out, you feel as if you're pushing yourself, but that week I really learned what it meant to push yourself, and that was big. "That work ethic is something that stuck with me at Valley Forge and will stick with me at Penn State." Following his season at Valley Forge, the University of Massachusetts was the only school to extend a scholarship offer until Penn State contacted his coach in late November. A few days after the initial contact, Nittany Lion assistants Ron Vanderlinden and John Butler made the trip to to personally meet with Smith. From that point on, everything was a blur for the 6-foot-1, 186-pound cornerback. The Nittany Lions' pursuit was "real short," he said. "I think it was maybe only two or three weeks before I went on my official visit. It wasn't like I was in contact with them for a year or a couple months or anything. I know they just found my film, emailed, gave me a call, and before I knew it I was at Penn State for an official visit. It was kind of crazy, really. Here I am now with an offer, about to join the team. "I'm very thankful for everything." Smith officially enrolled at Penn State Jan. 5, a moment he called "surreal." Going forward, he plans to do everything he can during the next few months to prepare for spring practice in late March, while also constantly reminding himself of the opportunity he's been given and what's expected of him, both on and off the field. "Honestly, I'm just happy to be a Lion again," he said. "I was a Lion in high school, I was born a Lion, I guess. The coaches at Penn State are great. They've been really welcoming, and so have the fans. I just appreciate the opportunity and I'm going to do everything I can to live up to the standards players have set before me."

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