Secrets out on Garden City WR

Earlier this week, Chris Harper, one of the top players in Kansas, said one of the best players he worked with at the Kansas State summer camp was Garden City, Kan., receiver Brodrick Smith. But Harper was already well aware of Smith's talent.

In the middle of last season, Smith rushed for 219 yards and had a 93-yard interception return as Garden City beat Harper and his Northwest teammates 21-20. It was a dual that featured two of the best players in Kansas. While Harper is already a household name, Smith is about to be one.

Smith, who is 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, already had a scholarship offer from Wyoming, but he just picked up an offer from the Wildcats after an impressive camp performance in Manhattan. At the camp, he clocked a 4.5-second time in the 40-yard dash. He also played on the same 7-on-7 team as Harper and the pair combined to not lose a single game all week long.

"Chris and I very familiar with each other," Smith said. "I played against in him football, basketball and it was kind of cool to be on the same team with him. We were undefeated. I told him it'd be really fun to go to college and play on the same team as him."

Where that would be still isn't clear, but right now it looks like K-State is the team to beat.

"I got the offer right after I was the camp," Smith said.

"I had a one-on-one meeting with Ron Prince. He told me what I have to do to get playing time as a freshman and be a contributor to the team. He talked to me about how I would probably have to start out on special teams and then work hard to impress at receiver. We had an hour long meeting. My mom doesn't want me to commit yet, but my dad (Lawrence Tolbert) went there and started as a freshman at K-State. It's always been a dream of mine to play at K-State.

"It's also been a dream to play college football, period."

Prince - Tim McCarty, the assistant recruiting him - definitely left a lasting impression on Smith.

"I really like coach Prince as a person," Smith said. "He was straight up with me. I know if I work hard then I have a shot to help them out right away. I also like coach McCarty. He's a really nice guy to talk to."

Wyoming, the other school that has offered him, is another option he's looking hard at. He's being recruited by Cowboys assistant Bryan Applewhite. Kansas is also showing more and more interest, but hasn't offered quite yet.

"I talked to (KU recruiting coordinator) Brandon Blaney just today," Smith said. "He said he was going to talk to coach Mangino about whether or not they are going to offer me soon. Clint Bowen is the coach that recruits out here for KU, but I've talked the most with coach Blaney. He's fun to talk to, too."

Whoever lands Smith will get an excellent prospect. He was an all-state selection in basketball as a junior after he averaged 15 points and 19 rebounds. He also earned all-state honors in football as a defensive back.

Smith also played on offense at receiver and quarterback. He moved to quarterback early in the season, where he rushed for 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns.

"I like receiver better than defense because I have the speed and ability to be physical," Smith said. "I was at receiver in the first game of the season, and I scored on a 98-yard touchdown, which was a school record. And then three games in, they moved me to quarterback because we didn't have anybody that could get me the ball.

"I ended up having a great season at quarterback. I like playing quarterback, because you get to have the ball in your hands and you get to control the game."

When it comes time to make the final decision, Smith does know what he's looking for.

"Academics will be one of the keys," he said. "I also would like for it to be close to home so my family can see me play. How much playing time I could get is also something I'll look at."