SOUTH POINT – Like father, like son.

Saturday, February 17, 2001

SOUTH POINT – Like father, like son. And hopefully, like uncle.

It’s becoming a family affair for the Smiths. With the signing of South Point Pointers senior quarterback Jarrod Smith with Georgetown College, it marks the third family member to play for the Tigers.

Jarrod’s father, Rusty, began at Glenville State but transferred to Georgetown. His uncle, Scoot, was an All-American wide receiver for the Tigers.

Jarrod said his father did not influence his decision.

"He left it up to me. But he was happy, especially with the academics," Smith said.

Smith picked Georgetown over several schools including Glenville State and Ashland College. He also talked with Division I schools Tennessee, Duke, Williams & Mary, North Carolina, and Minnesota.

"They all wanted me to come as a preferred walk-on because they were late recruiting me," Jarrod said. "I thought about it a little bit. They told me I was undersized. But they really wanted me at Georgetown and I wanted to go someplace where I’m wanted."

Not only is the younger Smith wanted, he is perfect to the wide-open offense Georgetown employs. Senior quarterback Eddie Eviston is a two-time NAIA Offensive Player of the Year including last season when the Tigers won the National Championship.

Jarrod said he welcomes the chance to sit behind Eviston during his freshman season.

"I can learn the reads and what (Eviston’s) looking for. This will be a great chance for me to learn from just watching him," Jarrod said. "I think I fit in great with their offense. They throw 52 times a game on average. And they have great facilities."

Jarrod set several school passing records at South Point. His 1,3,61 passing yards broke the old record of 1,145 held by his father. He also has the career record for touchdown passes, but his 16 touchdowns passes this past season were one shy of the single-season record held by his father.

Although Jarrod is anxious to start at the next level, he said football didn’t play a total part in the decision to play.

"They have great academics. They’re going to be Phi Beta Kappa in five years," Jarrod said. "It was a good decision to pick Georgetown. The academics are better because it’s a private institution. The average ACT is a 25, every instructor is a Ph.D., and they have a new $24 million library."

Jarrod is the son of Rusty and Carol Smith of South Point.