Last week I had the chance to see 2025 San Diego (Calif.) Lincoln quarterback and Oregon commit Akili Smith Jr. in action out in Chula Vista.
The Hornets made relatively quick work of the defending state champion Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders in a 54-19 win on the road.
Smith had a big day, accounting four total touchdowns. He finished the game completing 12 of his 21 passes for 192 yards and three passing touchdowns, against two interceptions.
He also added 35 rushing yards and a touchdown on 4 carries.
"It was a pretty sloppy win today," Smith told Ducks Digest after the game. "We definitely could've put more points on the board. We missed a lot of opportunities with penalties, just missed reads. Just doing some stuff on offense, so there was definitely more opportunities out there to get more points on the board. But I think it was a pretty solid win. I'm always happy with a win."
Smith was humble after the win, but knows that he's capable of a lot more, highlighting a particular part of his game he's hoping to improve.
"I'm trying to show everybody that I'm really deserving of that dual-threat. I'm trying to show I can use my legs and also throw the ball at the same time.
"I'm just glad that I'm finally starting to show that I can use my legs and throw the ball in the air."
It's not too often that you see 6-foot-5, 205-pound quarterbacks affect the run game on a consistent basis, and he knows that being an effective runner takes more than just scrambling out of the pocket.
"Just being able to see all the defenders covering all my guys and just being able to take off and tuck it under and just score touchdowns," Smith said on what it takes to become a strong running quarterback. "And also on RPO's, just taking the ball and reading the end when he crashes. Pull the ball, get the yardage that I can and get down."
Perhaps Smith's best highlight against Mater Dei Catholic was his long touchdown pass to senior Mahki Grey. The future Oregon quarterback relived that play and what was going through his mind.
"It was great that was my first time really throwing the ball to my left, which is my favorite side to throw deep balls too," he said. "I just read the safety. It was either throw the post or throw the dig, which ever way the safety goes you throw opposite. He jumped the dig and I just threw it over the top, so it was a touchdown."
Smith and the Hornets are off to a 4-0 start following his joining the team for the 2023 season, and while it hasn't been a process without growing pains, he's starting to see things come together.
"The first couple games were a little rocky. We're a new team, so there were a bunch of transfers that came in, so we're finally starting to gel a little bit more and just make sure that everybody has each other's backs.
"We do have a lot of penalties, but we're gonna get that cleaned up. It's just everybody's really passionate about the game. They just love the game so much so they just give it their all every play."
Next up for the gifted quarterback is a home matchup back at Lincoln this week.
"It's always for us always onto the next. We got Cajon. They look a lot like us, it should be a pretty good game. I'm looking forward to playing them next week."
Smith is far from satisfied with what he's been able to do so far this season and he'll keep striving for greatness with the Hornets.
"I'm gonna keep grinding," the Duck legacy said. "Put my head down, just make sure that I'm ready for everything that comes towards me."
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