Gianni Smith '20 Recruiting Profile

I’ve been a soccer player since I was 3 and had wanted to be a professional soccer player since I was 5. That held true until my sophomore year when I decided I wanted to play football professionally instead. I had to learn a completely new technique from kicking a soccer ball to kicking a football, but I was determined to be a competitor at the next level so I put in the work that was needed, and then put in more work. It wasn’t until after my junior season that I got professional kicking training for the first time with Chris Sailer and one of his coaches, Joey Cejudo. This training taught me everything I needed to know about kicking and punting from where my plant foot needs to be to where my eyes should be looking, and with this new information I evolved as an athlete. I take pride in who I am. My character off the field is a lot like my character on the field. I respect my teachers and everyone above me, but I want some respect as well. I’m the guy who breaks up fights. I am the voice for people who don’t have one. On the field, I am a team player. I do my best to be unselfish and football has helped me focus on the needs of the team before my own. I feel accountable to be a positive role model for my teammates but also for the young water boys, water girls, and ball boys at our games. I try to always keep my head up and inspire them to be positive and unselfish as players and as people. I want those kids to have someone to look up to and I am intent on being that person. I care for my teammates and I understand everyone is different, so as a leader I treat and care for each person as an individual. I always strive to win, but I understand that losing is a part of life. I’m a versatile athlete – I can do more than just kick and punt. I can throw, kick, catch, run… whatever is needed. I work hard and I do whatever the job calls for.