Corey Smith remains motivated, aims to flourish at Penn State
WAUKESHA, Wis. (BVM) 鈥� Penn State has seen successful running backs Saquon Barkley, Miles Sanders and more recently Big Ten Freshman of the Year Nick Singleton take the field in Happy Valley. The Nittany Lions will look to continue to build their arsenal of high-caliber running backs with the addition of Corey Smith, a four-star recruit and a .
Smith鈥檚 football journey began at a young age and with the help of his family and those around him, the sport quickly became a prominent part of his life.听
鈥淭he main thing that sparked interest in football for me was when I was 3 and I would go outside and a lot of my neighbors would play a seven-on-seven game,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淲hen I was old enough, I asked my mom if I could play.鈥�
Smith鈥檚 eagerness to play football grew and thanks to a deal he made with his mom, Corrie Smith, he was able to take his first steps onto the gridiron.
鈥淚 told him, 鈥業f you grow your hair out you can play,鈥� because my fear was that there’s a little bald-headed kid with a big helmet on, beating his head around,鈥� Corrie said. 鈥淗e grew his hair out and the next summer he came to me and asked, 鈥楢re we doing football?鈥欌��
Both of them made their way to a football camp that was being held for inner-city kids and there, Corey knew he was going to enjoy football, but as he continued to play, he nearly lost his love for it.
鈥淚 used to play basketball and I felt like it was more enjoyable at times because I was learning and having fun at the same time,鈥� Corey said.
Corey鈥檚 affair with basketball ended and he began to take football more seriously and made the varsity team as a freshman but received limited playing time. That changed quickly and he made the most of his opportunity as a sophomore, rushing for 1,130 yards on 96 carries with 20 total TDs and helping the Crusaders capture their .听
鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to play running back,鈥� Corey said. 鈥淓ver since I was in the third grade I played running back, but before high school, I played everything, but the only position I ever wanted to play was running back.鈥�
Corey has had plenty of help from his family and he鈥檚 also had help from one of Wisconsin鈥檚 best prep football coaches: Bill Young.
鈥淗e makes sure we鈥檙e disciplined and makes sure we’re doing the right things at the right time and just wants us to be good people,鈥� Corey said.
Corey helped the Crusaders reach their ninth state title game the following year, but the bid to win back-to-back titles fell short in a 21-13 loss to the Columbus Cardinals. The defeat hurt, but he and his teammates are taking the loss and turning it into a positive heading into the 2023 season.听
鈥淚 feel like it brought everyone closer and we鈥檙e putting everything else aside,鈥� Corey said. 鈥淎 lot of people think it comes easy and I feel like it was a wake-up call after we lost and it shows that not everything is handed to us. It鈥檚 brought us closer and we want to work hard.鈥澛�
Corey rushed for 1,304 yards last season and proved to be the best running back in the state, but it hasn鈥檛 been the easiest path and he鈥檚 had to endure plenty of hardships which included losing John Crowley, his father.
鈥淲e鈥檙e avid spiritual people around here,鈥� Corrie said. 鈥淚鈥檓 always talking to his dad one way or another and we wouldn鈥檛 have been on this journey without him.鈥�
Corey鈥檚 athletic trek has been nothing short of remarkable and he鈥檒l continue to play for his family, but he鈥檚 also preparing to start his final prep season and for a future in the Big Ten. On May 9 he decided to commit to Penn State becoming one of Wisconsin鈥檚 best high school football players to leave the state.
— Corrie Smith (@_RBZinc)
鈥淭he main reason I chose Penn State was that there鈥檚 a lot of caring people there,鈥� Corey said. 鈥淚 also feel like the academic scene is excellent and it鈥檚 definitely a school where football isn鈥檛 the main priority. It鈥檚 always good to have a Penn State degree.鈥�
Senior year Loading鈥鈥檓 about to do some major reflection!! Enjoy the moments! Momma鈾夛笍 Raging Blessings All Football Season Senior Year, here we come!
鉁濓笍鉂わ笍贵补尘颈濒测馃摎馃张馃挭馃径馃帀— Corrie Smith (@_RBZinc)
Corey chose to join the Nittany Lions over programs like Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Tennessee and others and seeing offers like that roll in was special. It鈥檚 motivated him to become a great football player and now he鈥檒l have the opportunity to provide motivation to up-and-coming football players.
鈥淎lways be you and never compare yourself to anyone else,鈥� Corey said. 鈥淒o good in school and it can definitely hold you back if you don鈥檛 and if you鈥檙e a good student, things will go a lot smoother if you take your education seriously.鈥�
There are sure to be plenty of obstacles ahead for Corey when it comes to an athletic career, but he has a solid family foundation and he鈥檒l do his best to succeed in the sport that has impacted his life significantly.听
鈥淭he game is like a family versus a family,鈥� Corey said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all competing for something, but at the end of the day we鈥檙e all brothers and we all love each other, win or lose. Everyone comes together as one and everyone gets the best out of each other and the game has really made me feel special.鈥澛�
