Comfort level led Smith to FCS honors

LAKE CHARLES, La. — The thought itself may come off as surprising. But one year ago, one of the most accomplished kickers in area and Ohio history had a significant amount of self-doubt in his abilities. "I had doubts when I was at Ohio State if I should have been in college football or not," said Garrison Smith, a 2021 Norwalk High School graduate. "I was losing my mind then. Not that they did anything wrong, I just … I had gotten so far and it felt like I was nothing and that I wasn't going to do anything more than where I was there." Smith was a preferred walk-on at Ohio State University for the 2021 season. And while the best kicker in Norwalk history got to experience the thrills of major stadium atmospheres — including a last-second Rose Bowl win — he still wanted an opportunity. At McNeese State University this season, Smith got that chance — and kicked his way into top honors. After going perfect on extra points (25-of-25) and near-perfect on field goals (10-of-11), Smith was recognized as one of the top kickers in all of the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). On Nov. 23, Smith was selected to the Southland Conference first team. On Dec. 8, he added Freshman All-American honors by Hero Sports — a media organization that covers FCS football. Last year, Smith said he was putting too much stress on himself as a walk-on, which included the thought of staring down $30,000 in student loans. "Part of my issue was overthinking everything," he said. "Even if I had a bad kick or whatever, I was convincing myself that was it for me, and I'd never get a scholarship. And for a school to give me an opportunity with a scholarship, I was able to relax a little bit more. "I went a few weeks in a row without missing in a game or practice this season," Smith added. "I was able to focus in more and get back to my regular rhythm. I wasn't fighting for a chance, I was instead given the chance. That was a big difference." Smith's longest field goal of 47 yards came in a 48-20 loss at Incarnate Word on Oct. 1, which is also the eighth-longest in program history for the Cowboys. His 10 field goals ranked second in the Southland, while his 84 points for the Cowboys (4-7) — who lost two straight games by a combined six points — was also second in the league. Smith kicked off 44 times with 27 touchbacks (62 percent) and punted seven times for a 40.4-yard average. Nationally, his 90.9 success rate in field goals ranked fourth in the FCS, while his 10 makes ranked as the 52nd most in the nation. "It was an opportunity that I wanted and that I am grateful to have — and I wasn't going to let it go," Smith said of his season. "Just like at Norwalk, once I was given the opportunity, I wasn't going to let it go. "That was my same goal here. Take every chance I could and keep moving forward." Grading himself, Smith said it has to be an A-minus — because he missed one kick. "You can always be better," he said. "I definitely can upgrade my touchback percentage. That's one thing I know I'll be working on in the offseason. Field goals, I missed one, so I can improve that percentage. I should have made that one, and I know why I missed. I just pulled it left. I swung through a little too hard for my distance and just pulled it left. "It's hard to look back on now, and I made all of them after that, but you just have to let it go and learn from it," Smith added. "That miss helped me make an adjustment for the rest of the season to hit the ball more toward the center. But I missed a kick and my touchback percentage could have been higher." At Norwalk, Smith etched his name throughout the program and OHSAA record books for kicking. A two-time All-Ohio first team selection, Smith finished 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 in 2020. His 57-yard field goal vs. Copley on Oct. 16, 2020 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 2019-20 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 Norwalk 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. With Smith as a starter, the Truckers were 24-11 with a league championship, a regional championship and five playoff victories. He kicked the game-winning points in Norwalk's 20-17 regional title win over Sandusky in 2018. Smith has three years of eligibility left at McNeese State, located in Lake Charles — the fifth-largest city in the Louisiana, situated in the Southwest corner of the state near the Gulf of Mexico. The 14-time Southland Conference champion Cowboys are looking for their first league title since 2015 under Gary Goff, the former Tiffin University coach who just finished his first season at the school. Smith said the league and All-America recognition did serve as a form of validation. "It shows that a lot my hard work paid off, and it's going to keep me pushing forward," he said. "I barely don't go out and practice every day. I have to be told not to kick or to stop during the season on weekends. "I wasn't expecting it to be honest. I was just glad to have the chance to do what I do, but it was nice knowing that I am being seen and recognized."