Columbus junior Kash Smith believes the work his team has put in throughout the offseason will be evident once the Titans take the field this fall.
After earning first-team All-CNC honors on both the offensive and defensive lines, including a unanimous selection on the defensive line, and receiving all-state honorable mention recognition on both sides of the ball, Smith enters his junior season focused on helping Columbus continue its improvement while embracing a leadership role.
“This year I’m very excited for the opportunity to just showcase the work and team effort we have put in over the summer,” Smith said. “The team has stepped up since last year and we are very excited for the season.”
Smith spent the offseason making the most of every opportunity to improve. He attended four camps, including three team camps and the Top Prospect individual showcase, while dedicating himself to the weight room and personal workouts throughout the summer.
The added work was centered on refining the finer points of his game rather than making wholesale changes.
“Something I have focused more on this year that I felt I needed to improve on was my speed and overall technique,” Smith said. “I think that I’ve really paid attention to the details and small stuff for this year and gotten faster and quicker on my feet.”
Smith’s production last season reflected his ability to impact the game on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Offensively, he recorded 16 pancake blocks in nine games. Defensively, he totaled 70 tackles, forced two fumbles and recovered three more, helping establish himself as one of the top linemen in the CNC.
While individual accolades have followed, Smith said his biggest goal this season extends beyond statistics.
“Some goals I’ve had for myself this year is to be not only a great player for myself but be a leader and a good example for my team and the people around me,” Smith said. “I think that is super important when building a good team atmosphere.”
That mindset also reflects the approach Columbus is taking as a team. Rather than focusing on results months down the road, the Titans are emphasizing steady daily improvement.
“I think our goal right now is to just get better every day,” Smith said.
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