We had the chance to talk with Larry Smith, who just took an unofficial visit to Purdue. Larry is a 5’10″ 170 lbs. Defensive Back from Jacksonville, Florida
“It was a great visit overall, I got a chance to talk to each and every coach on the coaching staff. I sat down with my position coach, we got on the board and ran a couple schemes, basically seeing where my football IQ is. I saw their weight room, nutrition & the rehabilitation departments. I got to see the academic program and how it would benefit me on and off the field. Afterwards we went to the basketball game last night.”
We asked Larry about what he was looking for in a program and what his thoughts on a potential major in the future might be.
“I’m looking for connections, a place where I can call home & feel like it is a family, a place that will take [care] of me after college. I want to major in entrepreneurship. I want to have my own businesses.”
Larry has been primarily in contact with Purdue recruiting coordinator Eron Hodges during his recruitment. In terms of other programs he has been in contact with Florida State, Auburn, and Duke, but doesn’t have any future visits planned yet.
In regards to his unofficial visit to Purdue Smith said, “It was definitely worth it. Me and my family really love their program.”
Tape Breakdown: One of the first things I do before checking highschool kid’s tape is to check to see at what level they are playing, which often times varies from state to state. In Larry’s case he played his junior season at Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville Florida where they lost in the 6A (largest 8A) state Region finals to the eventual state runner up. Florida is a massive football state and when you compare enrollment size of Smith’s High School to those in Indiana 6A, the highest in the state, his school would actually be in that class. So with that being said, even though this isn’t the highest levels of competition in Florida it is still an extremely high level overall,
There are actually quite a few things that stand out in Smith’s film, the first and most obvious one, is he seems like he is often in the right place at the right time to get an interception, I counted at least four interceptions on that tape. Certified ballhawk. The second thing that stood out was his overall technique and mindset playing in the secondary, this kid really gets it. There were numerous plays in open space that he made by breaking down and containing the ball carrier with excellent technique, but there is one play that really stands out to me that shows he really gets what it means to play in the secondary. During this play he is coming across the field to make a tackle where the he is lined up to go full speed and obliterate the ball carrier, but just before he gets to the ball carrier he lets up ever so slightly and then explodes into the ball carrier to make the tackle. To me that single play says more about his game than any interception or hard hit. Would not be surprised to see this kid have a breakout senior season and see his recruiting ranking skyrocket.
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