Boulder – Without playing a down in what promises to be an exceptional college career, Colorado deep threat wide receiver Josh Smith is already known as “J-Fly” around his teammates.
A year from now, he hopes he can be called “uncle” by a teammate.
Smith’s nephew, Darrell Scott, is the consensus top running back prospect in the nation. He rushed for 3,194 yards and 45 touchdowns teaming with Smith at Moorpark (Calif.) High School last season. Scott is transferring to another high school this fall, and CU is on his list of prospective suitors. So is nearly every power in the country.
“We’re definitely in his pack,” Smith said. “He has so many choices.”
Scott is the son of Smith’s older sister, Alexis Scott. The Buffs freshman moved from Florida to California for his high school career to live with his sister and nephew.
“We’re more like brothers because we’re the same age,” Smith said. “We love each other a lot. I’d love to have him out here and play at CU with me. But I respect the decision he makes. It would do a lot for the family for him to be here.”
Smith, who caught a 54-yard TD pass in Sunday’s scrimmage, hopes to do more of the same Saturday when the Buffs scrimmage at Folsom Field.
Coach Dan Hawkins said Thursday he is looking at the scrimmage in part to narrow down the freshman class between those who will play and those who will take redshirt status.
Three receivers, several offensive and defensive linemen and two defensive backs likely will avoid redshirt years.
Of course, Smith was a given to play immediately when he signed his letter of intent. If the 6-foot-1, 185-pound receiver runs as well as he did last week, it will be hard to keep him out of the starting lineup.
“I’ve been working in the starting lineup against the ones and the twos. There’s so much talent out there. It’s always getting me better,” Smith said. “Those guys recognize I have a lot of good talent as well, and it helps them get better as well because of the speed I bring out on the field.”
He earned a rebuke from Hawkins for showboating after his long TD pass last week and promises he learned his lesson.
Last week, the first and second units each had about 35 plays. Hawkins wants the top two units to see 45 to 50 plays this week.
Footnotes
Linebacker Michael Sipili made a court appearance Thursday on assault charges stemming from a June incident and had another court date set for the first week of September, after the opener. Hawkins said his indefinite suspension is unchanged and if the case isn’t resolved before the Sept. 1 opener, Sipili won’t play. … Quarterback Cody Hawkins showed some deft moves in a goal-line drill. Said Coach Hawkins: “He didn’t get that from me.” … The defensive line worked on the tackling sled after the afternoon practice. Hawkins said he thought line coach Romeo Bandison wanted to see more “oompah” from his players.
Staff writer Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
