Notre Dame Prep’s Jake Smith wins Gatorade Football Player of the Year
Dec 11, 2018, 6:00 PM
(Danny Shapiro/Arizona Sports)
(Danny Shapiro/Arizona Sports)
PHOENIX — A camera crew followed Jake Smith around school for two days without raising any suspicions. His parents told him not to get his hopes up for the award.
When Arizona Cardinals starting quarterback Josh Rosen walked through the doors of Notre Dame Prep on Tuesday, though, Smith had a feeling of what was coming next.
The University of Texas commit was named Gatorade’s National High School Football Player of the Year, the first Arizona player to win the award.
It was Rosen, the Cardinals rookie, who presented Smith with the honor.
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“It was a whirlwind of emotion,” Smith said. “I was shocked.”
The honor came less than a week after Smith was named one of three finalists for the award.
Prior winners included Peyton Manning, Emmitt Smith and this season’s Heisman Trophy winner, Kyler Murray.
Smith was certainly deserving of the honor.
He led Notre Dame to back-to-back state finals and amassed over 1,800 total yards and 37 touchdowns this season.
His junior season may have been even more impressive.
Smith became the first Arizona player since Rosen’s favorite target this season — Christian Kirk — to record at least 1,000 rushing and receiving yards in the same season.
“It was really awesome to give him this award,” Rosen said. “Awards like this are an appreciation for all of the hard work somebody has put in on the field and off the field. I was really excited for him.”
Here’s @josh3rosen talking about presenting Smith with the award. #AZCardinals pic.twitter.com/5qCUQmYDmd
— Danny Shapiro (@DannyShapiro13) December 11, 2018
The award also took into consideration a player’s off-the-field commitments.
Smith has volunteered locally on behalf of St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church, St. Mary’s Food Bank Community Kitchen, Feed My Starving Children and the Miracle League of Arizona.
Smith told Rosen he was in the stands on Sunday for the Cardinals’ game against Lions.
Asked if he’d like to be teammates with Rosen one day, Smith answered affirmatively.
For now, Smith will sign with Texas next week and graduate high school in the spring.
“I hope somebody else [can win the award from Arizona],” Smith said. “But I’m the first to do it and that’s going to mean a lot for me and my legacy at Notre Dame.”
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