A Meridian football legacy
Smith family highlights talent at next levels by Christian Knox
In high school , Kenny Smith was a dominant defensive lineman for the Meridian Wildcats . The 1997 graduate was a bruising force on the football field , which ultimately propelled him to continue his playing days at the University of Alabama and then in the NFL .
Smith ’ s storied football career from high school to college and then professionally was similar to most big-time high school players in the late 1990s with one exception – his son J ’ Mar Smith was born in 1986 while Kenny was still playing for the Wildcats . The years to follow , especially when Kenny began his professional career , significantly impacted J ’ Mar ’ s future , too . J ’ Mar literally spent his entire life around football .
However , unlike his father , J ’ Mar chose the the offensive side of ball as a quarterback .
J ’ Mar spent much of his youth in Meridian playing football , basketball and baseball , often with his cousins . As a bigger youth football player , he lined up at different positions , and even saw snaps at defensive line .
“( My dad ) played defensive line , so every time I was on defense I prided myself in making the play or making the tackle ,” J ’ Mar said in an interview . “ I would say there was a little bit of pressure , but I never held myself up to the standard of trying to be like him . I was just trying to make sure I played the game like he played it .”
When he wasn ’ t in Meridian , J ’ mar spent time around his father ’ s professional teammates . He said being around a professional football environment at a young age was like a movie .
“ When I was in New England , I took him up there with me ,” the elder Smith said . “ I came out of the weight room , and he was throwing with ( Tom ) Brady , so I knew I lost him on the defensive side . I knew he ’ d be stuck at quarterback because he ’ s a leader .”
By the time J ’ Mar got to Meridian High , he showed substantial potential in both football and baseball . Larry Weems , J ’ Mar ’ s high school football coach , saw him throw some footballs at a local camp and decided to put him at quarterback , where he quickly developed with the help of top target Corey Davis , who is his cousin . www . meridianstar . com
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