Smart by Name, Smart by Nature
The Cadet squad is filled with top-notch recruits including four-star senior receiver Bubba Frazier (committed to Notre Dame), senior quarterback Stephen Cannon (committed to Texas Tech), senior defensive lineman Kam Cody (a 4-star headed to Clemson) and junior 5-star edge La'Damion Guyton, who is the top-rated junior recruit, across all positions, in the country by Rivals.com.
Smart comes from athletic bloodlines. His father, Stanley Smart Sr., won the Finocchiaro Award as the top football player in Savannah as a senior playing for Beach in 1988 and was also an All-City baseball player. His father's first cousin, Tim Smart, won the Finocchiaro honor for Groves in 1985.
"He's well grounded and active in our church. I love going to his games and enjoying those moments, but I'll still give him a little bit of a critique if I see something he can be working on. And he wants to keep working, he doesn't want to get complacent. We're very, very proud of him."
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Smart comes from athletic bloodlines. His father, Stanley Smart Sr., won the Finocchiaro Award as the top football player in Savannah as a senior playing for Beach in 1988 and was also an All-City baseball player. His father's first cousin, Tim Smart, won the Finocchiaro honor for Groves in 1985.
"My dad has always been a big influence," Smart said. "He got me into track when I was young, and used to coach me in youth football. I'll have random people come up to me all the time and say that my dad was a bad man back in the day."
Smart Sr. remembers his high school days well. He said he rushed for about 1,300 yards in his senior year at Beach and also played linebacker and defensive end. He learned that hard work pays off when he won the Finocchiaro Award, and has tried to pass that lesson along to his son.
"Stanley has great size and speed, but what impresses me the most is his willingness to work," Smart Sr. said. "Some days he'll go to school, have a football workout and then have track and field practice — but he never complains, because he just wants to get better. "He's well grounded and active in our church. I love going to his games and enjoying those moments, but I'll still give him a little bit of a critique if I see something he can be working on. And he wants to keep working, he doesn't want to get complacent. We're very, very proud of him."
Smart Jr. said he has some individual goals this season that include rushing for 900 yards (at the minimum), with 1,200 yards of total offense. He said blocking is also something he takes pride in.
"If you're not going to block, there's really no reason you should get the ball," Smart said. "You block for your teammates and they block for you — that's the key to winning games."
BC's gold medal winning relay squads included Smart’s football teammates Frazier, Cannon, Eron Mallard and Cole Henderson. He said the bond they have is unbreakable — and will carry over to the football season.
"Our team goal of winning the state championship is the most important thing," Smart said. "We've got a lot of talent on defense and offense this year. We've done a lot of team bonding and we realize this is the last chance for our senior class to make a state championship run. Our goal is get that state championship ring."
