ITG Legacy Athlete: Telvin Smith
“I grew up playing football, but believe it or not, I didn’t immediately fall in love with it. In the first game I ever played in as a kid, I was playing center and just hated it. I actually came out of the game crying.”
But from youth league to high school, Telvin matured in body and mind, becoming an undeniable force at Lowndes High at the linebacker and tight end positions. Athletic enough to play both sides of the ball at a AAAAA (highest classification at the time) powerhouse, Smith was a walking highlight reel. When asked what his most memorable game from high school was, he replied, “Man, you already know it’s that Northside game.”
In this 2008 match-up, starting at linebacker amongst an incredible defensive unit, Smith had one of the best games of his high school career, and in particular, the best drive of his career. Leading by only a touchdown, Telvin changed the game entirely with an incredible performance on three consecutive plays: two tackles for loss followed immediately by an interception. The Concrete Palace was electric that night as Smith and the Vikings captured a key region victory over Northside Warner Robins 24-7.
But by no means was that the peak of Smith’s career. Understandably so, he caught the eye of college programs across the nation.
“I could have gone anywhere. Florida, Georgia, LSU, Alabama, Florida State, Miami, pretty much all the big programs.”
With countless offers on the table, Telvin had to determine where he wanted to go to play, but what turned out to be one of the largest factors was that he had to decide where he wanted to live.
“Every school tries to force you to commit, and the earlier the better for them. They talk about their program, the school, the campus, everything. But what mattered a lot to me was how close Florida State was to home. Tallahassee isn’t far from Valdosta, and I really wanted to remain close to all of my family, friends, and fans. So for current players going through the recruiting process, be sure to consider all of the factors. Don’t just jump at the first opportunity, but be sure to really examine yourself and your options to make the decision that is best for YOU and your loved ones, not anyone else.”
But it wasn’t like he was walking into a shoddy football program. FSU was an elite program before he got there, but after admitting to a tough first two years at FSU (he played special teams for the Noles as he worked on his size and knowledge of the defense), Telvin elevated the Seminoles to a whole new level. Arising as a leader of the defense and entire team, Telvin was a crucial part of their undefeated season, culminating with being crowned as the 2013 BCS National Champions. Defeating Auburn in one of FSU’s most memorable and important games in recent history, Telvin capped off his college career in epic fashion, securing the national title to complement his ACC Championship and State Championship at Lowndes in ’07.
However, game days are only half the battle. As a student-athlete at a top-tier program, Telvin had to balance his sports schedule with his academic load and personal life as well.
“The main difference between being a student-athlete in high school and college is that in high school, you go home to your mom; that isn’t the case in college. You are your own man, making your own choices, and having to deal with your own consequences, and it can be tough.”
Tough is an understatement. For still-developing, impressionable young men, making that transition can be a difficult one. Yet Telvin, even in the face of success and national fame, continues to stay humble and out of trouble.
“The opportunity to do wrong will always be there. Trouble isn’t hard to find, but you have to stay committed to your own morals, your teammates, your coaches, and to everyone who looks up to you.”
And Telvin does have people looking up to him. Fame has followed him from high school, to college, and now the in NFL, yet in talking to him, you would never know it. Just last week he took the time out of his busy schedule to go speak to the entirety of Southside Middle School. Earlier this year, a local family’s house burned down, so Telvin surprised the young boy and girl at their elementary school to give them gear from their two favorite teams: the Seminoles and Jaguars. The list goes on and on, and that big smile of his follows him everywhere. He keeps his success and the game itself in perspective, remaining humble, approachable, and family-focused, all while attempting to rebuild the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars.
With his impressive resume and leadership skills, it isn’t hard to see how Smith was drafted 144th overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Originally pegged as undersized for an NFL linebacker, he continues to prove his critics wrong. Combining the speed and quickness to hang with skill players with the power and smarts to be a force between the tackles, Smith’s versatility and tenacity make him an integral part of the Jag’s defense, amassing 59 tackles in the first 6 weeks of the 2015 season.
Jacksonville, however, does have a lot of improving to do in terms of the wins column. There are positions within their roster that certainly need some attention, but Telvin isn’t letting that distract him from the mission: working tirelessly at improving himself in every facet of his game and his life.
This is true now and was true back in his days at Lowndes, which he claims were his favorite years of football.
“My days playing in high school were definitely the most fun years of football for me. Although I love being a Jaguar and loved being a Seminole, my time at Lowndes was just special. The magic of playing on that field, under those lights, with my teammates, in front of those people, in that community with such pride and tradition, against the same people year after year that you grew up with… I’ll always cherish those days. It was back before football became a job. College football is a job, it’s political, it’s crazy. Professional football is absolutely a business, all about the money. High school football is football. Those Friday night lights in the Concrete Palace have a special place in my heart.”
It was Lowndes where he first had these experiences and forged bonds with the teammates that he still considers close friends (such as Greg Reid, Tyler Hunter, Gerald Demps, Brian Moore, Michael Copeland, and many more), and it is from there that he developed the drive that even the most casual observer can see today.
Viking. Seminole. Jaguar. Doesn’t matter. Accomplished at every level, yet still not content in his success. It’s always on to the next workout, the next week, and the next win, and he won’t let anything or anyone get in his way.
“My advice to current student-athletes hoping to play at the next level would be this: be willing to get rid of the people and things holding you back. If there is something or someone that is dead weight, keeping you from working hard and achieving your dreams, get rid of it. Surround yourself with people that care about and support you, and then grind to make the world see what you already know to be true.”
Unrivaled passion. Battle-tested dedication. Elite talent. Leaving a legacy of leadership, on and off the field. Telvin Smith has already accomplished so much in his life, but if you know him, you know that this is just the beginning.
Click here if you missed our ITG Legacy interviews with Greg Reid and Dontavis Sapp!
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I wrote Telvin a message on Facebook after he was drafted. Never expected a reply back, but i got one. I was pretty start struck, and amazed at how humble he was.