Journey to the NFL: FSU’s Kion Smith
posted by Joshua Dungee | February 12, 2021 | In News, SportsFrom freshman year to senior year, Kion Smith, offensive lineman at Fayetteville State University has had a long journey, but he just recently signed an agent and is beginning to prepare for the NFL draft.
“First days of classes when I was asked what I wanted to do after college, I always answered play in the NFL,” said Smith. But he had no idea how many ups and downs he would have to go through to get to where he is now.
During his junior year of high school, Smith received his first offer to play on the collegiate level at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCAT), but after an injury going into his senior year, Smith lost much of the attention he previously had. A couple weeks before the school year began Smith received a call from Fayetteville State University offering a scholarship and a chance to play on the football team.
“I was far from the first person on the depth chart when I first came in, but I worked hard day in and day out and was fortunate enough to start every game,” said Smith.
At his very first game during his sophomore year of college, Smith injured his shoulder. He continued to push through and play the rest of the season, but then ended up needing surgery after the season. The surgery along with the recovery was a lengthy process and caused Smith to miss his junior season.
During the time of his recovery, Smith was mainly focused on coming back better than he was when he left. He spent his time working with his athletic trainers, and he said, “it gave me some time to get bigger, faster, and stronger and I think that’s what I did.”
Smith is now in his senior year and has just signed an agent to try to continue his career at a higher level.
“My life changed from coming in freshman year and just playing the game ‘cause I love it, to playing it now because I love it and because I have the opportunity to make something of myself with it,” said Smith.
Official pre-draft training will not begin for Smith until January, but he does go to Charlotte every other weekend to prepare for the pre-draft training. Smith explains that the overall process has been different for him, but the one thing that has not changed is he needs to continue to “come in and work hard.”
Though Smith is almost done with college and this chapter of his life is coming to a close, he is on his way to new beginnings and is ready for whatever is next for him and the NFL draft process.
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