Recruiting/Player Profile: Reed Smith/Lakeville North (2021)

Nate Wahl December 20, 2019 @ 05:03 PM

With this Northstar Football News recruiting profile, we head to the far south metro to chat with 2021 NFN prospect Reed Smith who plays Tight End and Long Snapper for the Lakeville North Panthers. We chatted with Reed about his season, his recruiting trail, and what he learned this year as a player. Reed Smith (Class of 2021) Position: Tight End and Long Snapper High School Program: Lakeville North Get to Know Reed Smith Smith is a very versatile player for the Panthers offense. Both of his positions are his bread and butter but Smith told Northstar Football News, he's "played everywhere" during his high school football career. Smith is a hard worker that will do anything in his power to his team's benefit. Smith's biggest strength is something we touched on earlier, his versatility. He said his size helps him with blocking as a tight end, but he can also go out and catch passes as a big target wide receiver as well. Best Parts About Tight End Smith's two favorite parts about tight end are going out for passes as well as paving the way for his tailback <a href="https://www.northstarfootballnews.com/player/raja-nelson/">Raja Nelson</a> (2020 NDSU commit) on running plays when he has to block. Smith, had, unfortunately, had to close out his year with two knee injuries. College Interest Smith plans to play college football and has taken one visit so far to Minnesota State-Mankato to see where he fits in with the Mavericks, as a perennial power in Division II. Improvement from the Off-Season by Smith The biggest thing the Panthers coaching staff told Smith to improve on is his size and get even better than he already is with his versatility. Smith hit the gym in the offseason and put on 20 pounds as his coaches asked him. To start the season, the versatility improved, as Smith's positions ranged from wide receiver to offensive tackle and anywhere in between. Reed's Mentor Reed Smith told Northstar Football that his biggest mentor is his brother. "He's helped me work on my weaknesses and given me that tough love coaching," he said about his brother. What Smith Learned About Himself as a Player Smith said after two knee injuries this season that he started to "appreciate the game" as high school football is too short to not love and appreciate it.