A PRIZE CATCH TAFT WIDE RECEIVER SMITH ON RECRUITING LIST OF EVERY MAJOR COLLEGE.Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer Steve Smith has caught more than 90 passes during each of the past two football seasons for Taft High of Woodland Hills, so naturally he's the Daily News' top-ranked wide receiver entering his senior year. On defense, Smith had a state-best 12 interceptions last year (and seven as a sophomore), so he's probably also the area's best defensive back, not to mention a dangerous kick returner. In fact, Smith might be the area's greatest all-time high school football player, period. And the 6-foot-2, 180-pounder is gearing for what could be his best season yet because Taft also returns the region's top quarterback, Cary Dove. In the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. , skill players such as Smith come along once every decade or so. In the 1970s, it was John Elway John Albert Elway, Jr. (born June 28, 1960) played American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Denver Broncos from 1983 through 1998. Elway holds many college and professional records and was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is the only of Granada Hills. In the 80s, it was Russell White of Crespi of Encino. In the 90s, it was Justin Fargas Justin Fargas (born January 25, 1980 in Encino, California) is a football player in the NFL. Professional career He was drafted in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. As of 2006, he is the Raiders' second-string running back. of Notre Dame Notre Dame IPA: [nɔtʁ dam] is French for Our Lady, referring to the Virgin Mary. In the United States of America, Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks. So gifted an athlete is Smith - also an All-City basketball player and track standout - that he probably could develop into a star player at just about any of the other positions: quarterback, running back, tight end, linebacker, maybe even defensive lineman. Every major college in the country, including UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX and USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. , wants him. As for this season, which for Taft begins Sept. 13 (3 p.m.) at longtime rival Crenshaw cren·shaw also cran·shaw n. A variety of winter melon (Cucumis melo var. inodorus) having a greenish-yellow rind and sweet, usually salmon-pink flesh. [Origin unknown.] of L.A., Smith is as high-profile as can be. He's a marked man and has no choice in the matter. That's fine with him. Despite all the glossy magazine covers, recruiting courtship and gaudy statistics, Smith somehow hasn't lost grasp of team concepts. ``Yes, I do know I'll attract a lot of attention on the field,'' Smith said. ``But that just opens things up for the other guys in our offense. It doesn't matter if I catch more passes or get more interceptions than I did last year. I just want to win.'' Taft coach Troy Starr is savoring his final season with Smith. The coach admits he will ``really feel the shock next year'' when Smith graduates. ``It really is fantastic having Steve Smith on the team but sometimes I feel like I almost take it for granted because of the way he has always showed up for practice every day and kept working hard just like everyone else,'' Starr said. ``On offense, we keep thinking of new ways to get Steve the ball. At cornerback, he's just so instinctive and has great hands. He never drops interceptions, plus he's a big player in big games.'' Some recruiting services rate Smith the state's No. 1 receiver. Others rank Whitney Lewis Whitney Lewis (born August 13, 1985, in Corpus Christi, Texas and raised in Oxnard, California) is an American football wide receiver. He is entering his senior season at the University of Northern Iowa. of St. Bonaventure in Ventura ahead of him. Starr bristles at the notion of Lewis being rated higher. ``It's not Lewis' fault but he plays for a small school compared to Steve, who has been doing all this stuff against some of the best teams around,'' Starr said. ``The fact Steve Smith has done what he's done against the best is really important.'' Smith has 184 receptions in two seasons. He needs 86 to eclipse Leodis Van Buren's state career record of 269 (Newbury Park, 1990-93). Smith is 118 short of Adam Booty's national career record of 302 (Evangel Christian of Evangel, La., 1993-96). But it should be pointed out the top four national career leaders (Van Buren included) all established their totals in four seasons; this is Smith's third because he was only 14-years-old and couldn't play varsity football as a freshman (he scored 27 touchdowns for the junior varsity junior varsity n. Abbr. JV A high-school or college team that competes in interschool sports on the level below varsity. Noun 1. ). Smith's statistics don't cover the breadth of his impact. He's been like a big brother to Dove. A year ago, Dove's first start at quarterback was ruined when he threw consecutive interceptions on Taft's final two possessions in a seven-point loss to Crenshaw. Afterward, Dove broke down and cried and immediately was approached by Smith. ``Steve put his arm around me and told me it was going to be all right, that this was my first game and things were only going to get better,'' Dove said. ``Steve made me feel a lot better.'' Dove eventually passed for more than 3,200 yards and 33 touchdowns. Taft advanced to the City Championship final at the Coliseum Coliseum: see Colosseum. , losing to Dorsey of L.A. on a freak blocked punt for a touchdown on the final play. Much of Dove's production was a direct result of Smith - he had 93 receptions for 1,586 yards (including 16 catches in one game against El Camino Real El Camino Real (Spanish for The Royal Road or The King's Highway) was the name of a series of pre-automobile highways linking the various New World colonies of Spain:
``It's pretty nice to have the No. 1 receiver in the country on your team,'' Dove said. ``Even if I don't throw the ball perfect or it's not on the money, he manages to catch it. That's a very comforting feeling for a quarterback.'' Will Steve Smith be even better this season? He certainly has a shot considering he missed two games last season because of injuries and the Sept. 11 attacks. Plus, Taft has an excellent shot at reaching another final - and playing 14 games - this season. Smith's academic workload will be easier, too, because most of his time-consuming courses are out of the way. His fall schedule is economics, foods and nutrition, art and English. Smith not only has to decide where he'll go to college - he plans five out-of-town official recruiting trips and probably won't commit until after the New Year - but whether he'll play offense or defense. Or both. ``I love offense but I'm comfortable with defense, too. That's not a big deal,'' he said. For now, his biggest concern is the Friday nights. ``There's just nothing like having the football in your hands, getting ready to score a touchdown,'' Smith said. ``Your adrenaline is pumping, and you're just so excited to get into the end zone. That's when I do everything in my power to get across the goal line.'' DAILY NEWS TOP RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS Name, School, Yr. -- Comment 1. Steve Smith, Taft, Sr. -- The Valley's best ever 2. Quintin Daniels, WR/DB, Sr. -- Has offers from several colleges 3. Noah Smith, Taft, Sr. -- Breakaway threat 4. Rudy Burgess, Desert, Sr. -- Phenomenal all-around skills 5. Corey Mazza, Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. , Sr. -- Also a top defensive back 6. B.A. Harrell, Quartz Hill, Sr. -- Area's No. 1 tight end 7. Mike Horgan, Loyola, Sr. -- At 6-7, a big TE target 8. Paul Pratt, Taft, Sr. -- 42 receptions, nine TDs as junior 9. Todd Wilson Todd Wilson is a notable American organist. He is the chairman of the organ department at the Cleveland Institute of Music, and is organ curator of the Cleveland Orchestra. , Hart, Sr. -- Should catch 70 passes this year 10. Justin Green, Campbell Hall Campbell Hall can refer to:
11. Dan Bednar, Rio Mesa, Sr. -- A tough, athletic tight end 12. Kris Theus, Highland, Sr. -- Elusive in open field 13. Bryan Huston, Agoura, Sr. -- Led team in receptions, TDs 14. Javonte Holmes, Palmdale, Jr. -- Should be main weapon 15. Sean Coen, Canyon, Sr -- Among area's top possession receivers 16. Alex Rosenblum, Calabasas, Sr -- 50 catches, four TDs in '01 17. Kevin Ciccone, Hart, Jr. -- A quarterback's best friend 18. Lance Bordeleau, Royal, Soph. -- 6-4 tight end should dominate OTHERS TO WATCH: Marco Baltazar, Canoga Park, Sr.; Desmond Blair, Valencia, Sr.; Mike Chavez, Poly, Sr.; Justin Cox, Newbury Park, Sr.; Rob Daniel, Westlake, Sr.; Barry Daniels, Reseda, Jr.; Anthony Davis Anthony Davis can refer to:
The Antelope Valley , Sr.; Braden Lepisto, Agoura, Jr.; Dennis Pitta pitta (pĭt`ə), name used to refer to a genus (Pitta) of small, plump, brightly colored birds. The genus, including some twenty-three species, constitutes the whole of the family Pittidae. , Moorpark, Sr.; Eric Rosario, Kennedy, Jr.; Kyle Salter salt·er n. 1. One that manufactures or sells salt. 2. One that treats meat, fish, or other foods with salt. Noun 1. , Oaks Christian, Sr.; Jeff Sands, Alemany, Sr.; Brian Shields, Harvard-Westlake, Sr.; Calvin Taylor, Alemany, Jr.; Tommaso Trento, Malibu, Sr.; Andy Watts Andy Watts (born England) was the drummer for John Squire's post Stone Roses project, The Seahorses. After auditioning several different drummers for The Seahorses, Squire picked Watts as he could sing backing vocals whilst playing and had already played with bassist Stuart , Paraclete, Sr. - Compiled by Gerry Gittelson CAPTION(S): 2 photos, 2 boxes Photo: (1 -- color) TAFT HIGH'S STEVE SMITH (2) Taft High of Woodland Hill's star wide receiver Steve Smith also is a standout defensive back and kick returner. Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer Box: (1) DAILY NEWS TOP RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS (see text) (2) REGIONAL TOP 10 SINGLE-SEASON RECEPTION LEADERS SINCE 1990 |
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