High School

• Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN, On3, and Rivals
• Position ranks: #72 (ESPN), #85 (247Sports), #107 (On3)
• State of Illinois ranks: #37 (247Sports), #48 (ESPN), #49 (On3)
• Played for head coach Josh Jostes at Maroa-Forsyth
• Four-year letterwinner
• Two-time All-Sangamo Conference
• 2024 IHSFCA Class 2A All-State 
• 2024 News-Gazette All-State
• Set the Maroa-Forsyth single-season tackles record as a senior
• Caught 51 passes for 885 yards and 18 touchdowns during his senior season at Maroa-Forsyth
• Overall, totaled 91 receptions for 1,594 yards and 27 touchdowns during his high school career
• Was also an All-Sangamo Conference basketball player and track and field state qualifier in discus
• Two-time Academic All-State
• High Honor Roll
• Offers included Ball State

Personal

• Born May 1, 2007
• Son of Eric and Aimee Smith
• One brother, Keagen, and one sister, Avery
• Father, Eric, played basketball and football at Millikin before signing with the San Diego Chargers
• Mother, Aimee, played softball at Millikin
• Brother, Keagen, played basketball at South Dakota School of Mines
• Sister, Avery, played softball at Millikin
• Great grandfather, John W. Schnake, attended the University of Illinois
• Attended Illini football games growing up
• Majoring in engineering 
• Chose Illinois because “it is close to home, for the famILLy aspect, and a great engineering degree.”