USJ’s Trey Smith receives jersey for upcoming Under Armour All-America game in Orlando

JACKSON, Tenn. — University School of Jackson lineman Trey Smith was awarded Tuesday with one of the hardest jerseys to get your hands on as a high school football player.

With the coveted Under Armour All-America jersey, Smith will represent West Tennessee in the Under Armour All-America game on New Year’s Day in Orlando, Florida.

It’s a moment high school students dream of, but Smith no longer has to dream.

“It’s a tremendous honor,” Smith said. “It means thus far in the journey you’re one of the top players and they believe in your potential and your talent.”

Smith’s football journey began when he was a kid in the third or fourth grade.

His father was a talented football player at Haywood High School, and Smith was always reminded of how good his father was everywhere they went. They told him he could become the next great Smith, and he did.

Earlier this summer, he received the No. 1 ranking on the ESPN 300 board for high school football players — a big achievement for the humble football player from West Tennessee who likes to play video games.

But with that ranking comes a target on your back.

“Every week, somebody’s getting better,” Smith said. “If you’re not working, somebody’s getting better. Right now while I’m talking, somebody’s working out, you know.”

Smith comes from a great support system, but in February things got tough for him and his family. His mother passed from a sudden illness. But they stuck together and prevailed through the tough times. And just because she’s not here physically doesn’t mean she isn’t with him every step of the way.

“Every day I aspire to be more like her and my father,” Smith said. “The caring, giving nature and also the great man my dad is — mix those two and become a great human being.”

If his mother were here today, she would be nothing but happy for her son.

“She’d be proud of who I am right now. She’d also probably get on me and tell me I could be a little better, but she’d be proud,” Smith said.

Smith reminisced about the time he and other top recruits would sit around and reflect on the hard work it took to get to where they are now and how they didn’t have any of this attention prior to being recruited. He said he embraces the grind it took to become the No. 1 player. Now he’s ready to just get to college and get to work.

“I’m really excited about college, just the disappearing part,” Smith said. “Just sort of going back to the lab, so to say, and grinding.”

But before Smith focuses on college ball, he has his sights set on the playoffs as his Bruins get set to take on Friendship Christian School this Friday.

Smith will make his college decision Dec. 6.