Covington's Skylan Smith Named 3A Mr. Football

[CHARGERFAN]

Per the Daily Memphian:

https://dailymemphian.com/section/sportshigh-school-sports/article/48495/covington-standout-skylan-smith-wins-class-3a-mr-football

NASHVILLE — It’s hard to put into words what winning Tennessee Titans Mr. Football meant for Skylan Smith, Covington High’s football program and the entire Covington community.

But Chargers head coach J.R. Kirby gave it the old college try Tuesday,

“It’s emotional,” he said. “I was crying, Mom’s crying. There were a lot of tears at our table. We’ve been knocking on this door a few times ... (and) we’ve had a lot of great players at Covington that weren’t even recognized.
 

“Skylan’s a great kid and a lot of people from all different walks of the school were pulling for him. That’s not always the case. I was getting texts and videos of classes screaming, erupting and hollering. This means so much for our school and our community.”

On several different levels.

Smith, who was named the winner in Class 3A, is the first Mr. Football in Covington history. Additionally, he’s the first winner from Tipton County, and it came after he finished as a finalist in 2023 to Sheffield’s Radarious Jackson.

But this year, his numbers were hard to overcome.

Smith, a 5-foot-8, 180-pound senior, rushed for 1,585 yards — averaging nearly 11 yards per carry — and scored 31 touchdowns while adding six more on receptions and returns. Mr. Football only takes into account a player’s performance during the 10-game regular season but overall, the senior topped 2,000 yards and finished with 47 touchdowns for a Covington team that went 11-2 and lost to Martin Westview in the state playoff quarterfinals.
 

Westview freshman quarterback Graham Simpson — who passed for nearly 2,800 yards and 44 touchdowns with no interceptions — and all-purpose standout Eli Graf from state champion Alcoa were the other finalists.

Mr. Football voting doesn’t take career accolades into consideration either, but consider this: Smith will leave as Covington’s all-time leading rusher and touchdown scorer.

“It was very nerve-wracking,” he said. “When I heard my name called, it was a sigh of relief since I didn’t get it last year. (After last year), I just went back to work and worked harder. We have a great coaching staff that just pushes us to be the best versions of ourselves.”

And now he’s left a giant legacy for future players at Covington. That includes his younger brother, Jaheim, a 1,000-yard rusher as a sophomore for the Chargers this season.

“It’s special for my city because I’m the first one to do it,” he said. “Maybe there are little kids who look up to me, who want to be like me one day. Hopefully, they can break records. I really want my brother (to break them) and keep the family tradition alive.”

Added Kirby, “Where he’s at now is not a shock to me. We put a lot on him his freshman year and continued to build on that. He’s been the face of our program that last two, three years ... I know it means a lot to all the winners, but this kid right here, it’s going to stick with him for the rest of his life.”
 

Smith was the lone area winner among the five local finalists who were recognized during ceremonies at Nissan Stadium.

[TheMenace]

Congrats from WV. Smith is an awesome athlete and will do well at the next level. 

[CHARGERFAN]

19 minutes ago, TheMenace said:

Congrats from WV. Smith is an awesome athlete and will do well at the next level. 

Thanks. Skylan did deserve this honor. I’m sure that Simpson at WV will be favored to win it in the future. 

[Madddog2020]

Well deserved. Skylan was a phenomenal player and was a pleasure to watch this year.

Edited December 14, 2024 by Madddog2020

[SpottedGoat]

Well deserved, congrats young man. Playing with little brother right beside you, what an inspiration to him and football families everywhere!

[BelieveITorNot]

Great Job Mr. Smith!!! He deserves it. I love his vision and how he keeps his feet moving. I just didn't like that he ran out of the full back position.... He is number 4 in my book of Covington great running backs. #1 Darren White - The one man show, #2 Antonio Gaines - Fastest guy on the field #3 Michael Grandberry - Cut better than scissors. 

[CHARGERFAN]

Skylan Smith has also been named the Offensive Player Of the Year by the Commercial Appeal.

https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/high-school/2024/12/18/tennessee-high-school-football-skylan-smith-offensive-player-of-year-2024/76967093007/

In his years with Covington High School football, dating back to 2006, there were school records coach J.R. Kirby never thought would be broken.

Ones like former Arkansas State running back Johnston White's career rushing yardage record (4,081), or former Memphis receiver Darron White's rushing touchdown mark (83).

"I coached some of those guys that had those records and I never thought they'd be touched," Kirby said.Before the 2024 season, though, Kirby remembers scouring the record books and realizing that his star senior running back —coincidentally kin to White and other former Covington greats like former Memphis standout Michael Grandberry — was in striking distance.

"He’s not but 800 yards away and he needs 19 touchdowns, he’s gonna smash that," Kirby remembers thinking.

The touchdown record fell in Week 5 vs. Bolivar Central. Kirby quickly recounted the play, pointing to the south end of Covington's field around the 10-yard line.

"The move he made right there," he said with a smirk and pause. "I was like 'Man, that's Skylan Smith.'"

"It was a fullback quick pitch," Smith recalled with just as much glee as his coach. "That's my favorite play because I probably gained 10 or more yards every time. It's a great view of how we play. As soon as I'm tossed the ball, I look up and see every teammate blocking for me. It's brotherhood."

Kirby rattled off more memorable runs, and just as many school records that fell during Smith's 2024 season. He carried the ball 198 times for 2,212 yards and 41 touchdowns. He added another 509 yards and six touchdowns combined receiving and returning, earning Covington and Tipton County's first 3A Mr. Football award and the title of The Commercial Appeal's Offensive Player of the Year.

He guided Covington to an 11-2 record this season with its only losses coming against eventual 3A state runner-up Westview at the end of the regular season, Nov. 1, and in the state quarterfinals, Nov. 22.

Smith, a four-year starter, finished his career with 709 carries for 6,214 rushing yards and 112 touchdowns. His name now sits atop school records for career rushing yards, career touchdowns, touchdowns in a game (6) and in a season (47).

"He didn't just break them, he shattered them," Kirby said. "(Smith's) a great kid, high-character kid. He's special. You can't coach 4.37 (seconds in the 40-yard dash). People need to look past the fact that he's 5-foot-9, (185 pounds)."

Smith proved special when Kirby first saw him in middle school, but he hit a different level as a senior, fueled by losing out on 2023's Mr. Football award which Sheffield's Radarious Jackson won.

"Not winning last year, I had a big chip on my shoulder," Smith said. "This offseason, I went to work and got stronger in the weight room. I had something to prove, came out here, gave my all every game and worked my way to get back there.”

His humility and work in the weight room is what sets Smith apart according to his coach. Plenty of players speak of games as things to cherish given the violence of the sport. In part due to his father, Smith views even the small things that way.

"I cherish every moment in the weight room, on the field, anywhere," Smith said. "It can be taken away at any time."

Winning the awards he did this season are things he'll cherish for a particularly long time. They're things the cousins like White and Jamarion Dowell before him, former Mr. Football finalists and semifinalists, fell just short of doing.

"It felt great knowing that I came under them and did it and put Covington out there," Smith said. "I looked up to them a lot, especially from back in the day, just playing out in the field with them. It’s made me the back I am today.”