Garrison Smith commits to Michigan State

NORWALK — Garrison Smith won't be far from home at the next level. One of the top kickers and punters in the country, Smith, a senior at Norwalk High School, announced Saturday night he had committed to NCAA Division I Michigan State University. The Spartans made an offer to Smith on Nov. 13. Michigan State was 2-5 in the Big Ten in 2020 under first-year head coach and Cleveland native Mel Tucker, who had previous coaching stops with the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Cleveland Browns. Smith announced the decision on his social media platform. "First and foremost, I would like to thank everyone who has helped me along this journey," Smith wrote. "From highs and the lows, everyone and everything has brought me up to be the person I am today, allowing me to play at the next level. I would especially like to thank my mother and father for giving me everything to succeed and grow. "I would also like to thank my kicking coaches, Adam Tanalski, Fillip Filipovic, Brandon Kornblue, and Jamie Kohl for helping me develop and giving me all the opportunities. Lastly, I would like to thank coach Todd Fox and the rest of the Norwalk coaching staff for helping these last three years and believing in me. With all that being said, I am extremely excited to announce I am 100 percent committed to Michigan State University." Smith is ranked the No. 5 kicker and the No. 11 punter in the country for the Class of 2021 by kornbluekicking.com. The website kohlskicking.com rates Smith the No. 21 kicker and No. 13 punter nationally for his class. In 2020, Smith switched to kicking off the ground without a tee, and the results were significant. A two-time All-Ohio first team selection, Smith concluded his star-studded career with 23 extra points and 11 field goals in 2020 for 56 points in nine games (6.2 average). He also added 29 touchbacks on kickoff attempts. Smith — who made 32 career field goals, 16 beyond 40 yards — also made field goals of 54 and 57 yards last season. His 57-yarder vs. Copley on Oct. 16 is the fifth-longest field goal in OHSAA history and the second-longest in a playoff game. He had four field goals of 50-plus yards over the past two seasons. In the OHSAA record books, Smith is unofficially third for consecutive field goals made (13), fourth in consecutive PATs (92) and career kicking points (250), 22nd for points kicked in a game (13) and 23rd for 154 career PATs. He owns every program kicking record. As a punter, Smith also starred for the Truckers. In 2020, he punted 28 times for 1,288 yards, a 46.0-yard average that is also a program record. In 2019, he punted 36 times for 1,448 yards, good for a 40.2-yard average.