U-Md.-Bound Smith Is Finally Showing What He Can Do

A weekly look at area athletes who could make their mark in college -- or beyond.

There was the broken leg, suffered when he went up for a dunk and heard the crack of a tendon pulling away from the bone below his right knee. Then there were the two broken fingers.

"That was all in 2005," Torrey Smith said. "It was probably one of the worst years of my life."

Now, however, things seem fine for the Stafford High quarterback. He improved his time in the 40-yard dash, earned a scholarship to play football for the University of Maryland and this season has led the Indians to a 5-1 start.

"Within the community, everybody growing up who played with him or who had played against him knew athletically he had a lot of potential, but unfortunately as far as football goes he'd been hurt," Stafford Coach Chad Lewis said. "This year, he's getting a full season."

After playing different positions when healthy last season, Smith is behind center running the option for the Indians. He also returns kicks and punts, which is what first started to attract the interest of college recruiters. He plans to play wide receiver at Maryland.

Smith also was recruited by Virginia and Virginia Tech, but said those schools wanted to see him work out in person before offering a scholarship. Maryland, on the other hand, told Smith it would offer a scholarship if he could run the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds, a feat Smith accomplished at a combine last spring.

Recruiting Riffs

O'Connell 7-footer Zack Crimmins committed to play basketball for Columbia on Monday. Crimmins chose the Lions over Lafayette and Bucknell. . . .

DeMatha basketball coach Mike Jones said standout junior center Chris Braswell has narrowed his college choices to Georgetown, Virginia, Connecticut and Villanova. Braswell could make a decision before the early signing period next month. DeMatha senior guard Jeff Peterson is scheduled to visit Penn this weekend, while another senior guard, Marlin Cribbs, is interested in Mount St. Mary's and Maryland-Baltimore County. . . .

St. John's forward Vlad Moldoveanu has taken official visits to West Virginia and George Mason and also holds offers from Kentucky, Richmond, William & Mary and Towson, according to Cadets Coach Paul DeStefano.