Kornacki: Smith's Football Family Paved His Way
11/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 12, 2015
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan tailback De'Veon Smith, the youngest of five football-playing brothers growing up in Warren, Ohio, learned how to run hard and take the hits of his older, stronger siblings.
He's the third from the family to play at a Big Ten school, following former Wisconsin tailback Lance Smith, now 27, and Michigan State defensive tackle Maurice Smith-Davis, 30.
"When I was a kid," said Smith, "I used to sit in my bedroom and watch all their football games on the VHS (tapes). I'd watch them over and over, every day and night after school.
"But now, when I talk to Lance about certain plays, he can help me out. He tells me what I'm doing wrong and what I should've done on plays. Having somebody else who knows what I'm going through, knows what my body feels like at this point in the season, it's a pick-me-up."
His brothers Dwaine and James also played high school football.
"I look up to all my brothers," said Smith, who has one sister, "and so any advice they can give me is good advice. From Maurice, you pick up things about being physical. He's more like the 'big dog' of the house.
"Growing up, I got hit on (in games), but I could defend myself against them. But, you know, having four brothers around you all the time is a great feeling."
Smith led the Wolverines in rushing last year with 519 yards and is doing so again this season as a junior. He's rushed 120 times for 524 yards and five touchdowns despite being slowed by injuries in several games, and he is also the top receiver out of the backfield with 11 catches for 113 yards and one touchdown.
"He's very reliable," said Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh. "I think he was feeling better this last game. I thought he had some more De'Veon-like runs and was exceptional in the screen (pass) game. I thought he executed those plays extremely well. He's very reliable as a blocker as well. That's the third way he helps. He's very good in each of those phases."
Smith had 15 carries for 73 yards and one touchdown Saturday (Nov. 7) against Rutgers and also caught two passes for 45 yards.
His signature play this season was a 60-yard run against Brigham Young that was pure determination. He broke several tackles on that inspirational effort and finished with 125 yards. He also set career highs with 23 carries, 126 yards and three touchdowns against Oregon State. But his punishing style of running takes a toll on his body, and Smith was unable to start two recent games while playing well under full speed.
"A few weeks ago," said Smith, "I was kind of banged up. But I got in the training room and got all of the attention I could to get my body back to where it needs to be. I need to be able to break tackles and run people over.
"It was frustrating to play that way, but you also have to learn how to deal with it. I didn't realize that until this week. Previously, I was running like I was hurt. But you just have to fight through things. I talked to my brothers about that and what would help me. They just told me to be more patient and start reading the holes better and knowing my landmarks (the correct gap in the line), and that will get me where I need to be."
It wasn't necessary for Smith to block that much for the Warren Howland Tigers. He set a Trumbull County record with 6,750 yards rushing and 82 touchdowns.
"Since my freshman year my blocking has improved tremendously," said Smith. "I blocked in high school but not against guys who were 6-3, 245 pounds. And pass-blocking is something I take pride in. I don't want my quarterback to get on the ground. I tell them, 'I've got your back. I'm going to make sure nobody gets to you.' I pick up my blitzes, and the offensive line picks up theirs. It's a good feeling, and your quarterback loves you if you keep him off the ground."
Smith credited Wolverine running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley for his development this season.
"Coach Wheatley understands exactly what we're going through right now," said Smith. "He breaks stuff down for us and makes it a lot easier to learn."
Smith had caught only three passes in his first two seasons combined but now ranks fourth on the team behind Amara Darboh, Jake Butt and Jehu Chesson.
"I've always had good hands," said Smith, "but I never really got thrown to. It helps out because now I can run, block and catch the ball, too."
He made his mark as a great high school runner, accumulating a yardage total at Howland which equaled 3.8 miles.
"It was fun playing under the Friday night lights," said Smith. "But, you know, I had some great coaches throughout high school who helped me out a lot. I've known them since I was eight years old because of my older brothers."
Smith got to celebrate his 21st birthday Sunday (Nov. 8) with his family and friends, including Dick Angle, his coach at Howland High.
"Coach Angle was kind of like a father figure for all of us -- me and my brothers," said Smith. "So, he's definitely someone I look up to. We can go there and ask him for anything, and he'll always be there for us with help and anything."
What was the best birthday present he received?
"Just having my mom there," said Smith. "That was the best present I got."
Audreanna (Awed-REE-nah) Smith created her younger son's first name and middle name, Le'trell, but De'Veon said he's never asked her about the inspiration for his unique names.
"That is a great question, though," he said, a smile creasing his face as he looked up. "It's my name, and it's different."
What does his mother, who works two jobs as a bus driver and a nurse's aide, mean to him?
"She means everything," said Smith. "She's the reason I'm playing football today. She got me playing football when I was four years old. Having a strong mother like that, a single parent, raising all those kids and making sure every one of us was eating. We never missed a meal.
"I want to give her back when, hopefully, I make the NFL, so she doesn't have to work anymore."
Family and football have always gone hand-in-hand for the Smiths.
All the way back to when little De'Veon, only four, was signed up to play by his mother, and then when he started tagging along to his brothers' high school practices. A running back was being formed. De'Veon learned how to take a hit and deliver a hit, and how to churn his legs to success.
