BOULDER — Josh Smith can’t walk five minutes between classes without another student saying hey. If the freshman isn’t the most popular athlete on Colorado’s campus these days, he ranks close.
Playfully personable, Smith is bright, funny and stands out in a crowd with those dangling dreadlocks. He’s the most dangerous wide receiver in an offense that hopes to show it can turn it up another notch during Saturday’s spring game.
And, oh, yes, Smith is an uncle of Darrell Scott, the incoming freshman from California rated by most recruiting services as the nation’s top running back prospect.
“I guess you could say I’ve got pretty much a complete package going on here,” Smith said with a grin. “It was mapped out pretty good. A lot of guys tease me, like, ‘Oh, Josh, I made you on a video game.’ You can add dreadlocks on those games now, so they do that and get on me. I just feel a lot of love from a lot of people around here.”
Smith wasn’t loving life so much during the recruiting process this winter. With his blue-chip nephew trying to decide between Colorado and Texas, Smith felt at times like the future of the football program depended on him.
The question most asked by those who follow recruiting was: Could Josh Smith deliver Scott?
“I’m not going to lie. It was bothering me a lot,” Smith said. “The pressure started to come down on me, to where if I didn’t get him out here, I’m letting the people down.”
Smith makes it clear he did not sign up to be a middle man and never wanted to be one. CU coaches were cool about it. But everybody else . . .
“Some people who didn’t even know much about football said they heard about Darrell Scott and knew I was related to him,” Smith said. “They wanted to know if I could get him out here. It was really getting out of hand.”
Colorado coach Dan Hawkins recognized the strain and let Smith know the responsibility for recruiting Scott rested with the coaching staff, not with him. Media interviews with Smith were cut off until national signing day, when Scott made his intentions known.
“I had pulled Josh aside earlier and told him: ‘I want to reiterate to you one thing. We want Darrell and hope he comes here. But the bottom line is, we’re fired up that you’re here,’ ” Hawkins recalled. “I told him, ‘Regardless of what happens, I’m fired up that you’re here.’ ”
Hawkins appreciates Smith’s spirit, speed and toughness. Last August, Smith had to be hospitalized after bruising a kidney. During a scrimmage on Folsom Field, he ran a pass pattern right into the wall just beyond the end zone. He returned for the third regular-season game and recorded two receptions for 40 yards against Florida State. Smith wasn’t about to miss out on playing against the Seminoles. He grew up in Tallahassee, Fla.
Smith finished the season with 23 catches for 451 yards, a team-best 19.6 yards per catch. Despite missing two games and relying mostly on instinct and athleticism, rather than on precise route running, he ranked sixth on the team in receptions.
This spring, Smith has gained a better grasp of the offense, so much so that CU coaches are moving him around. The idea is to get Smith in open space where he can use his speed to blow by safeties and turn routine plays into difference-makers.
“We just have to find ways to get Josh the ball,” CU receivers coach Eric Kiesau said. “We don’t want to give too much to freshmen. But now he’s feeling more comfortable.”
“Josh is a big part of what we want to do,” quarterback Cody Hawkins said.
Surprisingly, Smith failed to get into the end zone last season.
“That frustrated me,” Smith said, “to come from scoring a lot in high school to not getting into the end zone. But that keeps me humble.”
Smith did not want to let it out earlier, but he and Scott had talked about playing in college together since they were youngsters.
The extended family hails from Florida, and Scott convinced Smith to move to suburban Los Angeles, where they could be teammates at Moorpark High School. After Smith left for CU, Scott transferred to play his senior year at St. Bonaventure, a prep football power.
“It’s kind of funny,” Smith said, “but Darrell recruited me first.”
Fortunately for CU, turnabout was fair play.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
CU spring game
Folsom Field in Boulder
Saturday schedule
10:30 a.m.-noon — Eighth-graders and younger can participate in skill/fitness stations on Folsom Field. The first 500 who complete the activities receive a free Colorado T-shirt and lunch.
11 a.m.-noon — Autograph session, CU football players and other student-athletes.
11:30 a.m. — Pregame party at Balch Fieldhouse, adjacent to Folsom Field (west of the stadium). The first 1,000 or so people receive free lunch.
Noon — Club-level open house at the Byron White Stadium Club (east side of the stadium).
1 p.m. — CU football spring game. Admission is free, as are all the other events.
Source: CU sports information
