Wise High Grad Finds Home at JMU

DeAndre' Smith had already made a visit to Towson University in suburban Baltimore and also planned to take a look at Old Dominion University in the Tidewater region of Virginia.

But after checking out James Madison University, which like Towson and ODU plays in the Colonial Athletic Association, the former Henry A. Wise, Jr. High standout had found his school in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

"This is where I wanted to be," said Smith, standing on the football field at JMU before a recent practice with the Dukes.

Smith, who played defensive back, quarterback and wide receiver for Wise and graduated in 2011, even called off his visit to ODU after he saw JMU.

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound player entered practice this past summer as a defensive back at JMU. But the true freshman has seen time at wideout for the Dukes, who won the Division I-AA national title in 2004.

He played in the first nine games, with one start, and had six catches for 38 yards for a team that was 5-4.

Is Smith surprised to see playing time so soon in his college career?

"Kind of, in a way. I came in to work as hard as I could," said Smith, wearing purple shorts and a jersey as he prepared for practice with the Dukes at their expanded home stadium that holds about 25,000 people in Harrisonburg, VA.

Smith played in high school at Wise under head coach DaLawn Parrish, who played defensive back at Division I Wake Forest of the Atlantic Coast Conference in the 1990s.

"He would not let me settle (for less). He pushed us to be the best," Smith said of Parrish.

JMU is one of several CAA teams that has been nationally-ranked during this season. "It is exciting. It is a very competitive conference," Smith said.

Smith helped lead Wise to three straight Class 4A South titles and a spot in the state finals. He played quarterback and defensive back as a senior as the team was 12-2 overall.

Smith ran for 420 yards and passed for 774 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior. As a sophomore quarterback he led the Pumas to their first playoff win and first regional title.

Wise downs Bladensburg

The Wise High football ended regular-season play with a record of 9-1 following a 40-8 win over Bladensburg on Nov. 5. The Pumas were ranked No. 9 in The Washington Post poll.

In games from Nov. 4, Frederick Douglass beat Friendly, 38-0, while Largo lost to Crossland, 26-8.

Till starts for the Terps

Titus Till of Upper Marlboro had three tackles for Maryland in a 31-13 loss at home Nov. 5 to Virginia. He is a redshirt freshman defensive back from Wise High.