Daylan Smothers, nation's No. 9 running back, commits to Oklahoma Sooners
Through his first three prep seasons, Vance/Chambers High School-turned-West Charlotte High School running back Daylan Smothers has known a lot of success.
He won a state title at Vance as a sophomore and made it to the state tile game for the same school, which changed its name to Chambers, as a junior, earning North Carolina's Heisman Trophy in the process.
Ruled ineligible for his senior season after transferring to West Charlotte, perhaps the last major football accomplishment of his high school career took place at Ranson Middle School on Thursday afternoon, where the electric 5-foot-11, 182-pound call-carrier made his college decision.
Rated the nation's No. 9 running back, Smothers committed to Oklahoma over fellow finalists Alabama, Florida State and North Carolina State, as well as offers from nearly 30 other college football programs.
"I'm going to Oklahoma, because my visit went real well," he said. "The relationships I built with coach (Jeff) Lebby, coach DeMarco Murray and coach (Brent) Venables - just a family feeling. Guys treat me like family. I have a good relationship with the guys and they did what they could to make me feel comfortable."
After rushing for 1,581 yards and 28 touchdowns as a junior, Smothers projects as a big-time back at the collegiate level, where he has a chance to continue Oklahoma's legacy of developing elite ball-carriers.
"It means a lot, honestly, especially looking up to guys like Adrian Peterson and DeMarco Murray," he said. "It would mean a lot to play as part of a legacy like that. You already know the standard that those guys have set, so it's about living up to It, holding it and keeping it going. That means a lot."
Smothers will get daily lessons from one of those legends, as Murray is the running back coach at Oklahoma.
His presence was a major factor in securing the North Carolina star's commitment.
"He was a big factor," Smothers said. "Talking to him and being personable with him was a great. He's a great guy - genuine and very humble. Everyone knows DeMarco Murray, but he doesn't act like that type of guy - NFL superstar. He acts like a regular guy and genuinely cares about you as a human more than a football player. He gave me a great family feel and did a great job of getting close with me and my family."
Smothers said he "100 percent" intends on graduating in December and arriving in January, where he hopes to hit the ground running on early playing time.
Junior season highlights
