https://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2018/06/logan_smothers.html
A young Marcus Mariota? Nebraska, Ohio State high on Athens QB Logan Smothers
Logan Smothers isn't exactly sure how Nebraska discovered him.
The Athens rising junior quarterback didn't have a Power Five offer following the spring, then Cornhuskers defensive coordinator Erik Chinander, who recruits north Alabama, came to visit Smothers at school in mid-May and extended an offer.
"I was very surprised, at first, because it's Nebraska and how far away they are," said Smothers, who is rated the No. 13 dual-threat quarterback in the nation for the Class of 2020 by the 247Sports Composite. "And then because it's coach (Scott) Frost and the success he had at Central Florida. It's very humbling."
The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Smothers made an unofficial visit to Nebraska on June 13. Two days later, he heard from Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, who invited Smothers to the Buckeyes' Friday Night Lights camp on June 22.
Smothers father, Athens offensive coordinator Shane Smothers, said that Frost and Ohio State co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Ryan Day both compared Logan to a young Marcus Mariota, who was also a three-star recruit. Frost was Mariota's offensive coordinator for two years at Oregon. Day coached in college and the NFL under Chip Kelly, Mariota's first head coach at Oregon. Logan is two inches shorter than Mariota was a senior. For his junior season, Logan switched from No. 9 to No. 8, the same number Mariota has donned with the Tennessee Titans, Oregon and in high school.
"It's very humbling knowing that people like what I do and think that I can fit their offense," said Logan, whose other offers include Troy, UAB, South Alabama and Southern Miss.
Logan came away from both trips impressed with what he saw.
"We both loved (Nebraska); everything they showed us," Logan said. "All the coaches were very genuine and good people. We had a great visit. Coach Frost is very laid-back and he's going to tell you how it is; he's straightforward and I like that a lot. He's not going to sugarcoat it. Meeting him was very neat because of who he is and what he's done. He's young and very cool. I like him a lot.
"We went to the Friday Night Lights Camp. That was pretty neat, too, because of who it is and the success Ohio State has had. I like coach Meyer a lot. He was straightforward, too."
Logan, who has also camped at Auburn and Mississippi State, completed 65 percent of his passes in 11 games last season for 2,041 yards, 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He ran for 719 yards and eight TDs on 110 carries. Logan was clocked at 4.48 in the 40-yard dash at Ohio State. He has competed in the Class 6A state track championships the past two years, qualifying for the 100-meter dash as a sophomore and the 400 as a freshman.
The Smothers are a football family. Shane played quarterback in high school, signed with UNA, converted to receiver and was part of the Lions' 1993 and 1994 Division II national championship teams. Logan's brother, Luke, played some quarterback before transitioning to receiver at Muscle Shoals, and another brother, Landon, finished at Muscle Shoals and was one of the winningest high school quarterbacks in state history. Luke and Landon signed with UNA.
"(Quarterbacking) is all you ever know," Logan said of being a Smothers.
"There's some trash talk here and there," he added with a laugh when asked if there are debates on who is the best quarterback in the family, "but it's all good, friendly competition."
Athens went 5-6 last season in Year 2 under former UNA quarterback and offensive coordinator Cody Gross. The Golden Eagles made the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
"We've got a lot of starters returning on both sides of the ball," Logan said. "We've put in a lot of work in the weight room and on the field already, so we think we have a shot to be really good."
A young Marcus Mariota? Nebraska, Ohio State high on Athens QB Logan Smothers
Logan Smothers isn't exactly sure how Nebraska discovered him.
The Athens rising junior quarterback didn't have a Power Five offer following the spring, then Cornhuskers defensive coordinator Erik Chinander, who recruits north Alabama, came to visit Smothers at school in mid-May and extended an offer.
"I was very surprised, at first, because it's Nebraska and how far away they are," said Smothers, who is rated the No. 13 dual-threat quarterback in the nation for the Class of 2020 by the 247Sports Composite. "And then because it's coach (Scott) Frost and the success he had at Central Florida. It's very humbling."
The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Smothers made an unofficial visit to Nebraska on June 13. Two days later, he heard from Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, who invited Smothers to the Buckeyes' Friday Night Lights camp on June 22.
Smothers father, Athens offensive coordinator Shane Smothers, said that Frost and Ohio State co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Ryan Day both compared Logan to a young Marcus Mariota, who was also a three-star recruit. Frost was Mariota's offensive coordinator for two years at Oregon. Day coached in college and the NFL under Chip Kelly, Mariota's first head coach at Oregon. Logan is two inches shorter than Mariota was a senior. For his junior season, Logan switched from No. 9 to No. 8, the same number Mariota has donned with the Tennessee Titans, Oregon and in high school.
"It's very humbling knowing that people like what I do and think that I can fit their offense," said Logan, whose other offers include Troy, UAB, South Alabama and Southern Miss.
Logan came away from both trips impressed with what he saw.
"We both loved (Nebraska); everything they showed us," Logan said. "All the coaches were very genuine and good people. We had a great visit. Coach Frost is very laid-back and he's going to tell you how it is; he's straightforward and I like that a lot. He's not going to sugarcoat it. Meeting him was very neat because of who he is and what he's done. He's young and very cool. I like him a lot.
"We went to the Friday Night Lights Camp. That was pretty neat, too, because of who it is and the success Ohio State has had. I like coach Meyer a lot. He was straightforward, too."
Logan, who has also camped at Auburn and Mississippi State, completed 65 percent of his passes in 11 games last season for 2,041 yards, 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He ran for 719 yards and eight TDs on 110 carries. Logan was clocked at 4.48 in the 40-yard dash at Ohio State. He has competed in the Class 6A state track championships the past two years, qualifying for the 100-meter dash as a sophomore and the 400 as a freshman.
The Smothers are a football family. Shane played quarterback in high school, signed with UNA, converted to receiver and was part of the Lions' 1993 and 1994 Division II national championship teams. Logan's brother, Luke, played some quarterback before transitioning to receiver at Muscle Shoals, and another brother, Landon, finished at Muscle Shoals and was one of the winningest high school quarterbacks in state history. Luke and Landon signed with UNA.
"(Quarterbacking) is all you ever know," Logan said of being a Smothers.
"There's some trash talk here and there," he added with a laugh when asked if there are debates on who is the best quarterback in the family, "but it's all good, friendly competition."
Athens went 5-6 last season in Year 2 under former UNA quarterback and offensive coordinator Cody Gross. The Golden Eagles made the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
"We've got a lot of starters returning on both sides of the ball," Logan said. "We've put in a lot of work in the weight room and on the field already, so we think we have a shot to be really good."
