Home High School Patrick “Cheeks” Smith Commits To Vanderbilt University

Patrick “Cheeks” Smith Commits To Vanderbilt University

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Photo Credit:Matthew Strabuk/For the Press

New York, NY— The 5’11 190 pound Egg Harbor Township resident Patrick ” Cheeks” Smith will play his college career at Vanderbilt University and 4.0 Sports is the first to report it.

“Cheeks” final choices were Colorado State, Wake Forest, Iowa, Iowa State, Vanderbilt, and Yale. If you know this young man, his choice came down to the stellar academics and network at Vanderbilt.

“Academics is just as important so it played a big role,” he said. “Football is not forever. You need something, a plan B, if the NFL doesn’t work out.” Smith said.

“Cheeks” committed to Colorado State earlier in the year, on May 4 as Rams coach Steve Addazio used his Jersey roots to lure Smith to Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts while he was the head coach at Boston College.

Photo Credit: Patrick Smith/File

Smith was one of the top running backs in New Jersey and also one of the country’s finest. Last season he carried the ball 170 times for 1500 rushing yards, he also had 2200 plus all-purpose yards. The durable back led the state in kick returns.

On film No. 4 plays much bigger than he looks and has proven to be a difficult tackle. “Cheeks” runs with good body lean, keeps his legs moving, and rarely goes down on initial contact. The Holy Spirit’s back shows excellent football speed and does a great job of following his blockers, can cut on a dime, runs with his pads low, and gains significant yardage after initial contact. He is definitely a every down running back with great vision.

“Just to have that feeling, that is one of the most important feelings, as well as a chance to come in and help the team as much as possible, as fast as possible. Have a chance to come in and learn from the older guys, but also have a chance to come in and play pretty quickly. Those are the main things I am looking for in a school.”

Vanderbilt coaches Clark Lea and Norval McKenzie are getting a complete player from Egg Harbor Township. Smith will definitely light it up in Nashville, Tennessee, put all your eggs in that basket.