"A Thunderbolt With Hands in Every Play"

Eric "Tre" Smith

@Erictresmith

5'11, 215lbs, Class of 2029

Jesuit HS, FL

Eric “Tre” Smith brings an electric mix of power, passion, and versatility to Jesuit. He can finish a run through contact, line up at receiver, set a crushing block from H-back, and turn his attention to defense when his team needs him there. Tre describes his game as physical and passionate, and the way he embraces so many assignments makes those words easy to see. He spends much of his time playing both ways, bringing the same fierce energy whether he has the ball, is clearing a path for a teammate, or is closing in on a tackle.

Jesuit is 7–1 heading into its district championship matchup with Hillsborough, and Tre has scored 7 touchdowns this season. Those scores show his ability to make plays, but they only tell part of what he gives the Tigers. Jesuit’s spread offense shares the ball among its weapons, so Tre makes his touches count while doing plenty of work that helps other teammates shine. At running back, he attacks contact and fights to finish his runs. At receiver and H-back, he looks for the block that springs a play open. He takes enough pride in that work to compete with his teammates each week for the most pancake blocks and biggest hits, winning both competitions multiple times this season.

Tre’s growing command of the offense has made that versatility even more valuable. After spending much of last season on defense, he moved to offense full-time and studied blocking schemes, route concepts, and what each play is designed to accomplish. He wants to know more than his own assignment because understanding how everyone fits together helps him react faster and execute his job with purpose. His offseason training supported that move, with work on speed off the line, ball security, and pad level. The transition also gave him a better understanding of why his father had trained him for so many different demands of the game.

Tre had already shown what he could do when called upon in unfamiliar circumstances. Last season, he started six games at linebacker while Kaden Henderson was injured and helped Jesuit make a deep playoff run. Another moment still stands out to him: his first high school touchdown and his first sack came in the same game. This season has brought a different challenge, as Jesuit rebuilt its offense after losing quarterback Will Griffin and its entire offensive line. Tre has drawn on lessons from last year’s seniors, working to stay patient, encourage his teammates, and lead through his actions when a play does not go as planned.

The Smith Family Legacy

Tre’s football roots reach back to his grandfather, Eric Shawn Smith Sr. In 1985, he rushed for 501 yards against East Bay for Tampa Bay Tech, setting Florida’s single-game high school rushing record. He finished that season with 1,383 rushing yards and led the Tampa-area rushing list before playing at Louisville from 1987 to 1989. His single-game record stood for 27 years, until Derrick Henry passed it by one yard in 2012.

Tre’s father, Eric Shawn Smith Jr., built his own name as a running back at Armwood High School. He rushed for 1,600 yards and 25 touchdowns as a sophomore, earning second-team Class 4A All-State honors. A fractured left elbow limited him to four games as a junior, but he still rushed for 550 yards and 12 touchdowns. As a senior, he rushed 172 times for 1,253 yards and 14 touchdowns, caught 15 passes for 288 yards, and recorded seven games of at least 100 rushing yards. Armwood finished 13–1, and Eric earned third-team Class 4A All-State and PrepStar All-Southeast Region honors. He went on to play running back and H-back at Auburn, joining its 14–0 team that won the 2010 SEC and BCS national championships.

Tre’s uncle, Jamiel “Petey” Smith, made his mark on the other side of the ball at Armwood. Petey stacked 135 tackles as a sophomore in 2006, 72 as a junior, and 79 as a senior, finishing as the school’s all-time leading tackler. He earned All-State honors twice, first-team All-Hillsborough County and All-Suncoast recognition, and 2009 Under Armour All-American honors. Armwood went 12–1 in his senior season before he went to Alabama. Today, Petey trains young athletes through The Lab by Petey Smith, teaching football fundamentals and position skills.

Tre knows the standard set by his grandfather, father, and uncle, but he wants his own work to speak for him. His faith in God and love for his family fuel that drive. Every time he steps on the field for Jesuit, he wants to compete, help his teammates win, and leave the game better than he entered it.

Tre’s strongest asset is the physical impact he can make in several roles. He runs through contact, attacks blocks with purpose, and brings proven linebacker experience to a team that asks a great deal of him on both sides of the ball. His effort when a teammate has possession gives Jesuit more ways to win than his touchdown total alone can show.

His study of the offense is helping Tre turn that range of skills into sharper execution. He understands why a block matters, how a route fits a play, and when his assignment can create room for someone else. Continued work on his speed off the line, ball security, and pad level will help him make the most of every snap as Jesuit moves through the rest of its season. Stay tuned.