IFCA All-Star Game new beginning for Bloomington South lineman Hunter Smith
Hunter Smith certainly had no reservations about playing in the Indiana Football Coaches Association's All-Star game.
The idea of playing college football was another matter. He's battled through his share of injuries and wasn't sure how many more he wanted to add to the list. Interestingly, the day before he had to undergo labrum surgery, he took a visit to Marietta, Ohio, which is in the fast southeastern part of the state next to the Ohio River.
The Pioneers are members of one of the toughest leagues in NCAA Division III, the Ohio Athletic Conference that includes perennial powerhouse Mount Union. They were willing to welcome Smith into the program and the 5-foot-10, 260-poud center made up his mind to give it a try.
"That was a last-minute thing," Smith said after Tuesday's all-star game practice. "They have a good program, they had a couple of All-Americans this past season and they're building up the program. They have nice facilities and a nice school. And the town kind of reminded me of a smaller Bloomington.
"I went there for orientation and it had a good homey feel. I'm happy to be there. The coaches made sure I knew that even if I get injured again, they still want me there and to be part of the team."
Center of attention
While Marietta wants Smith to continue to play center, he'll switch to guard for the All-Star game which takes place at Decatur Central on Friday at 7 p.m.
It is the ninth straight year a Panther has been invited to play for the South squad, with the run including offensive lineman Sam Young (2022), who recently transferred from Arkansas-Pine Bluff to Division II Central State in Ohio; SS Maddix Blackwell (2021); RB Maveric Thiery (2020); DE Sam Lewis (2019); OL Garrett Hickman (2018); DE Tommy Richardson (2017); DB Hunter Warthan (2016) and QB Bryce Stancombe (2015).
"I think it's a blessing to be another lineman to go up here and show what our school can produce," Smith said. "It's a great opportunity."
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Smith's labrum injury has healed and he's ready to go and said he had little trouble getting back into game shape for this week. One of his teammates is DePauw-bound Isaac Fisher of Bishop Chatard, the son of new Edgewood football coach Scott Fischer. The linemen are rotating together in groups.
"It's really cool," Smith said. "There's a lot of competitiveness going on. and a lot of good talent to go against."
Tickets are $10 and $5 at the gate and $11 and $6 if purchased at gofan.co/event/987858?schoolId=IN86890
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: IFCA All-Star Game new beginning for Bloomington South's Hunter Smith
