Southside High School Football Player Derick Smith Named ITG Next Alabama Male Athlete of the Month for July 2023
With the start of the Alabama high school football season right around the corner, we decided to put a spin on our Athlete of the Month series for July 2023 and identify an athlete who could be set for a memorable season. That athlete is Southside-Selma football player Derick Smith, who received 80% of the possible votes over a list of three additional finalists from schools in Classes 3A, 2A, 1A, and the AISA.
Those other three finalists were Elba running back Alvin Henderson, St. James quarterback KJ Jackson, and Mobile Christian edge rusher Sterling Dixon.
Smith is a two-way standout at the Class 3A school. Odds are you have heard his name before, but if haven’t, you certainly will this fall.
The No. 8 pass catcher in our Top 10 rankings at the position entering the 2023 season, four star-rated Smith is one of the state’s top overall prospects in the 2025 class. At 6 feet, 2 inches, 180 pounds, he also has played basketball in his high school career. He holds offers for football from elite collegiate programs such as Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Texas, and more.
Looking back at last season, it’s hard to imagine an all-around more impressive year than what Smith accomplished for Southside-Selma as a sophomore.
On offense, he posted his second consecutive 1,000-yard season, catching 57 passes for 1,391 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also rushing for 966 yards and 8 more scores on 51 attempts. Defensively, Smith enjoyed a similar level of success, posting a stat line of 98 tackles, 14 TFL, 4 sacks, 8 INTs, and 13 PD.
Easily one of the state’s most impactful all-around players regardless of classification, Smith is poised for yet another impressive season; potentially he could even rival those gaudy 2022 numbers. Simply put, remember that name, Derick Smith.
