Ryan Smith another star DB from Bishop Amat More
Junior to Watch: Ryan Smith
School: La Puente (Calif.) Bishop Amat
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Position: Defensive Back/Wide Receiver
Size and Speed: Smith stands 5-foot-10, weighs 175 pounds and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds.
Statistics: Smith racked up 23 tackles; six passes broken up and had two picks. .
Honors: Smith was an all-league and all-area selection as a junior.
Favorite Schools: Smith is hearing from UCLA, USC, Cal, Washington, Oregon and Colorado.
The Skinny: Opposing teams didn’t want the to challenge Smith and didn’t throw his way as a junior. Look for more of the same his senior season.
“Ryan is as good as they come as a cover corner,” Bishop Amat head coach Mike DiFiori said. “He makes the man he’s covering disappear.”
High praise when you consider the school Smith plays for Bishop Amat; has had terrific corners in the past, most notably Daylon McCutcheon (USC) and Ralph Brown (Nebraska). Both of who are making a living on Sunday.
“Ryan can run with the best of them and he never quits on a play,” DiFiori said. “He ran down a kickoff return at least 80 yards on the backside and saved a touchdown his junior season.”
Smith will only be 17 when he graduates in 2003 and all indications are that Smith is still growing. He possesses good work ethic on and off the field. Smith is a smart young man who carries a 3.0 GPA.
One More Before You Go:
Another one to watch from Bishop Amat this season will be fullback Andrew Soto. Soto plays both ways as a fullback/linebacker. Soto stands 6-foot-0, weighs 220 pounds and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds. Soto is a terrific blocker who was the lead blocker for Cal bound running back Donnie McCleskey.
Soto is a versatile athlete who has also lettered in baseball and basketball and has been on CIF championships in both sports.
Soto was an all-league selection as a fullback, the position he projects at on the D-I level.
USC, Cal and Arizona have shown interest in Soto.
Stay tuned…