The unlikely rise of Garrison Smith

NORWALK — More than anything, the sound gets your attention. Not the time of day or the weather conditions. Just the sound. When Norwalk City Schools maintenance worker Kay Leimeister recalls seeing a young man on the practice fields in rain and sleet early in May and again on a 91-degree day in July, the thump of a kicked football comes to mind. "Every few minutes it was a thud, like a boxer hitting a punching bag," she said, describing the distinctive noise of Garrison Smith booting the ball time after time, often in awful weather. "I was surprised by it because I couldn't believe anyone was out there … but he was out there many times." Time spent alone, kicking on the practice field in spring and summer months, has played a key role in Smith's quick rise in the specialized world of kicking the pigskin. In fewer than three years, the senior at Norwalk High School has transitioned from full-time soccer player and part-time football player to full-time football specialist: • From no stars to a five-star ranking as one of the top-rated kickers in America. • From barely getting the football over the goalposts at 25 yards to connecting from 53 yards — on grass while raining — in a game setting. • From being a complete unknown by college coaches to an NCAA Division I recruit. Smith's rapid success story has moved as fast as some of his kicks go off his foot and through the uprights. And plenty more is coming for the 5-foot-10, 170-pounder who is already in OHSAA's kicking record books. "Every day you don't go out and train is a day you lose," Smith said. "I've had a lot of support and so much has broken right, but my mindset is to do what I can do and keep pushing forward." Futbol vs. football The son of Dave and Kelly Smith started playing soccer at age four. Sport quickly became passion, starting with local leagues for fun, and later, in competitive travel soccer in the Cleveland area. "I loved soccer — and still do," Smith said. "My plan was to advance myself in soccer and maybe if I was fortunate, play in college." As he progressed, his penalty kicks often sailed high toward the net, looking similar to a football kick. Dave Smith noticed both his son's kicking style and the growing trend of high-school football teams with soccer players kicking on Friday nights. With a small orange tee and two footballs meant for straight toe kickers — a mostly obsolete form from the early days of the sport — the younger Smith started practicing in small sample sizes at the Norwalk Middle School practice field. The deal struck by father and son was that if Garrison could kick a field goal from 35 yards, he'd be allowed to play eighth-grade football. He made plenty from 30 yards — but never from 35. "He still let me play," he said with a smile. "And thank goodness that happened." With kickoffs and extra points not exactly a priority at the junior-high level, Smith mostly played wide receiver. But as the fall sports season and 2017-18 school year approached, a series of life-changing events occurred. Fateful sequence For the 2017 football season, Austin Brown was set in the Truckers' lineup as kicker. Brown, who graduated in 2019, was also an NHS soccer player. During preseason camp, Brown not only encouraged Smith but also lobbied the NHS coaches to get him some kicking reps in practice. "Because I knew how he felt," Brown said. "When I was a freshman and a backup kicker, the same thing happened, and I was a nervous wreck." Two years earlier, kicker Griffin Rinner tore his ACL, and Brown was forced into action, taking over kicking duties for the rest of the Truckers' season. Then, disaster: during an August soccer scrimmage at Buckeye Central, Brown tore his ACL and was suddenly lost for the season in both sports. "Very unfortunate, and I hated seeing it happen because Austin was a great athlete and is an even better person," Smith noted. "He was pushing for me to get some practice reps in when he didn't have to." Brown's injury and subsequent surgery propelled Smith into the starting kicking position. The result: he's now one of the top-rated kickers in the country. Brown, a student at Ohio University, can only laugh at the thought that his injury changed not only the trajectory of Smith's career, but perhaps the Norwalk football program. Smith kicked the game-winning points in Norwalk's 20-17 win over Sandusky to win a regional championship in 2018, while his five extra points and two field goals in a 41-40 win at Clyde in 2019 were pivotal in the Truckers' clinching of just a fourth league title in football over the past 85 seasons. Brown's cousin, Garrett Chapin, was the starting quarterback on both those teams and is again this season. "I just like hearing the success of my own school, but especially people you know or are close to," Brown said. "When I got hurt, Garrison was always respectful and asked how I was doing, always such a nice guy. "There is one thing about Garrison that sticks out, which is he loves the game," Brown said. "And he is so fundamentally perfect. He's not the biggest, but his fundamentals and drive are why he's making 50-yard field goals in games and is deserving of everything that has and will come his way." But near-instant success on the football field also brought a big sacrifice. After 12 years playing soccer, he stopped playing "futbol" in 2018 to focus solely on his football game. That was a startling change for him and his family; a spray-painted Norwalk soccer ball remains on their front sidewalk at home. "When I had to go up to Coach (Jon) Kijowski and tell him I was quitting soccer, it was hard," he said. "That was my goal, my dream. But I just started taking off with football. "It was hard to let go, but easy to let go, because my mindset had changed." Among his soccer friends, senior standout Will Gehlhausen said he was sad to see Smith go — but it's also hard to argue with results. "Not everyone can say they are a top-20 kicker and punter in the country, so obviously he's made the most of his decision," Gehlhausen said. "He was a really good teammate and a leader on the soccer field even as a freshman and sophomore. "When I first moved to Norwalk as a freshman, he was there for me right away," he added. "Garrison is a good kid and we're all happy for him. Our friends just kind of joke when the offense crosses midfield that we're in range for him to make a field goal — but I'm not sure how much of a joke that even is, anymore." No-star to five-star The "market" for kicking prospects is unique. Special teams is the most important aspect of football is a common belief. Even so, that doesn't mean a five-star kicker is going to get offered a scholarship over a five-star quarterback, or any other position, for that matter. "The market is, if you know what you can do, then you have a chance," Smith said. He traveled all over that "market" this summer, including camps in Indianapolis, Orlando, Chicago and Gatlinburg, Tenn., in just two months' time. At the Chicago camp, he hit a 64-yard field goal, and his name immediately surged up in the rankings. According to kornbluekicking.com, he's the No. 6-ranked kicker in his class and No. 9 punter. Meanwhile, kohlskicking.com tabbed him as the No. 5 kicker and No. 13 punter in among high-school seniors. All four rankings are considered 4.5-to-5 stars. "Hitting 64 yards was huge for me, but I believe I can hit one from further and I'm doing everything I can to get myself there," he said. That persistence and attitude made third-year Norwalk head coach Todd Fox shake his head when he communicated with Smith via text messaging over the summer. "He was at one of those camps, I think in Tennessee, and told me 'I only made it from 56 today,'" Fox said. "Only 56 yards? I told him to repeat that to himself and how that sounds. "But that's the work ethic and standard he has set for himself. It says it all, really." After a summer showcasing what he can do putting toe on ball, Smith received a preferred walk-on offer from University of Cincinnati on Aug. 27 — the day before the regular high-school season kicked off. Before the Bearcats' offer, he got one from Div. II Tiffin University and, on Sept. 5, added Fordham University (Football Subdivision) in New York City, to his list. He's also communicated with University of Akron, Bowling Green State University, Eastern Michigan University, Colgate University and University of Pennsylvania. Last season, he also took an unofficial sideline visit at Ohio State. "The relief was there when offers came through," Smith said. He credits Filip Filipovic from The Kicking Coach among others for his camp success. "But when Cincinnati offered and I was talking to Coach Fox, my thought was on our game at Huron the next night. I'm in the mindset of focusing on this shortened season and getting done what we can — and whatever happens after it, happens." Different pressure Having a kicker with Smith's ability also creates an unspoken pressure on those involved. That includes holder Jesse Cole, who puts one knee down and trusts himself to get the ball set with the laces facing out each time. "It does create just a little more pressure, because I know if I mess up the hold and he misses a kick because of that, it just cost us three points," Cole said. Cole described his teammate as a perfectionist, but not in a negative way. "He gets on me a lot, not yelling or anything, but he'll tell me what I need to fix or need to do for him to make a kick," Cole said. "Everything has to be on the same page at all times so that each step is correct for Garrison to kick the way he does." Smith is highly appreciative of all the effort that goes into a successful extra point or field goal. "Without those guys getting our timing and snaps down, none of this would really be possible," he said. "It takes everyone doing their part." In 2017, he made 24-of-25 extra points and two field goals of fewer than 30 yards as a freshman. Those numbers grew in his 2018 sophomore season to 57-of-59 on PATs and 8-of-10 on field goals, with a long of 40 yards. Smith made two critical field goals in both the regional championship (vs. Sandusky) and state semifinals (vs. Kettering Alter) for the Truckers in the Div. III state playoff run. Then, in 2019 came his kicking explosion. As a junior, Smith made all 50 extra points and was 11-of-13 on field-goal attempts — with an impressive seven kicks beyond 40 yards, and two of 50 and 53 yards. After earning All-Ohio special mention in 2018, he was a first-team selection last season. Along with 26 touchbacks in 12 games in 2019, Garrison's leg has become such a weapon, he's also created a different type of pressure for Coach Fox. If the Truckers reach a fourth-down situation inside the opponents' 35-yard line, Fox knows his kicker has the ability to put three points on the scoreboard. But if the Truckers are behind by more than six points, Fox knows his offense is eventually going to have to convert and reach the end zone for the team to win the game. In three games so far this season, Fox several times has left his offense on the field in attempts to get both points and some momentum for a unit seeking it. "We've had that conversation in all three games, honestly," Fox said. "We're thinking we have to get a touchdown — we need six points. Yet at the same time, it's really hard to leave those three points off the scoreboard if you don't convert." Fox said having Smith's kicking talent has changed the tension on the sideline from moving the offense into the red zone for seven points rather than kicking for three. It can be a tough choice, he noted. "We've tried finding that balance, but it's not always easy," Fox said. "Garrison is just a weapon that most people can't and won't ever have. As a coach, you certainly want to use every weapon you have available to you." As the kicker, Smith understands the debate. "I view kickers as chess players that control their surroundings in a game," he said. "I like being able to do that, and when we get inside the 40 I feel like we're in range. With that comes frustration sometimes of going for six points instead of three. I completely understand it. "I'm fortunate Coach Fox takes chances and is even willing to throw the field goal team out there, because you rarely see a high-school kicker get to attempt 13 field goals in 12 games like last year," Smith added. "He put faith in me and our kicking unit." Fox noted that in 26 years of coaching, including 11 as a head coach, he's never seen anything close to Smith's kicking abilities. "It's having that confidence that we can score from the other team's 30 or 35," he said. "Garrison is putting us in a little bit of a different situation — but it's a great situation to be in."