University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Arian Smith
August 08, 2023 | Football, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Arian Smith describes the feeling of getting loose for a long touchdown as being "free." It's a feeling the Georgia wide receiver got to experience in a huge moment during the College Football Playoff last season.
Against Ohio State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Smith caught three passes for 129 yards, including a 76-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter — his first TD of the season — that cut the Buckeye's 11-point lead down to three, He only had one catch for three yards in the National Championship Game, but then the deep passing game wasn't really needed in the 65-7 win.
A redshirt junior from Bradley, Fla., Smith was a standout sprinter in high school, winning one FHSAA Class 2A state championship in the 200 meters and winning the 100 in the boys elite division at the 2019 Nike Prefontaine Classic. That speed remains evident on the football field.
During a Quick Chat after Georgia's first preseason practice last week, Smith talked about what it's like to run free for a long touchdown in a big game, as well as his days being an elite prep sprinter, going fishing with safety Dan Jackson, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: When did you first really get into sports?
Smith: I got into sports late; I got into sports when I was around 14. My mom, she put me in football, and we realized that I was actually pretty good. Then, when I still wasn't tired, still had energy after football practice and stuff, so my eighth-grade year, before I got to high school, she put me in track.
From then on, I kept working and got better. I had opportunities and took advantage of them.
Frierson: Do you remember a first big, successful moment, one where you realized that you might have a future beyond high school?
Smith: I would say around my sophomore year, when I was running track. I was like, OK, I'm pretty fast. Then I was getting invited to big meets around the country, like the Prefontaine Classic, that's one I won. Another one was in Boston, the adidas Dream 100. Only four or five guys got invited to that, so then I was like, Oh, I must be good. Then I got invited to the USATF (USA Track and Field) event down in Miami, and I placed third in the 100.
Frierson: Why are you here playing football instead of running track somewhere?
Smith: Because I love it. I wouldn't do it if I didn't love it. (Preseason camp) is a grind, 14 days in a hotel, it ain't easy, it'll drive you crazy, but I love it.
Frierson: Was there ever an internal debate of football versus track?
Smith: There definitely was a debate. I was doing two sports, and I loved both, obviously, but it was hard letting go of track, for sure, because of the love I have for it. I love running, period.
Frierson: Take me back to the Ohio State game. Was that the most fun football game you've ever played?
Smith: Definitely. It was a big moment, and I enjoyed it. My teammates were there for me and I celebrated with them. I feel like they were more happy than I was, really, because we practice composure all the time. Don't get too high, don't get too low. I scored and that was nice, but the game ain't over yet.
Frierson: When you're running free and you know you're going to score a really long touchdown, what is it like in that moment?
Smith: You feel free, man. All you hear is wind, your pads, the sound of you running, and people screaming. You feel good. Making my family proud. It's what you dreamed of; it's the biggest moment I've had in my life on a football field.
Frierson: What do you do to get away from football and school?
Smith: I love to sleep, I love to run, I love to work out, I love to eat, hang out with my friends, play basketball; I love to fish and get outside.
Frierson: What is your best or favorite fishing story?
Smith: There was one from not too long ago. Me and Dan Jackson went fishing somewhere ... and we had a really good day. We caught six or eight five above 5 pounds; we were snatching them in. We caught like 40 fish that day.
Frierson: What's the biggest fish you've ever caught?
Smith: Probably like an 8- or 9-pound bass, down in Florida. I've been deep-sea fishing before too, for grouper and snapper, stuff like that. I haven't been in a long time but I do want to go again.
Frierson: What's something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
Smith: Candy [laughs]. I don't eat it every day but I could. I love sugar and sweets.
Frierson: If you walk into a convenience store and head to the candy aisle, what's the first thing you're grabbing?
Smith: Probably some sour candy. And if I don't want any sour candy, I'm going to grab something chocolate, like an Almond Joy or Snickers or Twix.
Frierson: Looking at it from the outside, football seems so complicated. It's like a foreign language that most of us can't really speak. As a player, how hard was it to learn the language of football and the offensive system?
Smith: Freshman year, probably one of the hardest things I ever did was get a signal and line up. Now, it's more second-nature and easier, for sure. I don't have to worry about learning, I've just got to worry about giving good effort.
Frierson: Who is the funniest guy on the team?
Smith: There are a lot of funny guys on the team. I would say myself but it's probably (defensive lineman) Warren Brinson. It's got to be Warren. He's honest, no filter, and he's going to tell you what he's thinking. He's going to say something funny every day.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
Arian Smith describes the feeling of getting loose for a long touchdown as being "free." It's a feeling the Georgia wide receiver got to experience in a huge moment during the College Football Playoff last season.
Against Ohio State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Smith caught three passes for 129 yards, including a 76-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter — his first TD of the season — that cut the Buckeye's 11-point lead down to three, He only had one catch for three yards in the National Championship Game, but then the deep passing game wasn't really needed in the 65-7 win.
A redshirt junior from Bradley, Fla., Smith was a standout sprinter in high school, winning one FHSAA Class 2A state championship in the 200 meters and winning the 100 in the boys elite division at the 2019 Nike Prefontaine Classic. That speed remains evident on the football field.
During a Quick Chat after Georgia's first preseason practice last week, Smith talked about what it's like to run free for a long touchdown in a big game, as well as his days being an elite prep sprinter, going fishing with safety Dan Jackson, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: When did you first really get into sports?
Smith: I got into sports late; I got into sports when I was around 14. My mom, she put me in football, and we realized that I was actually pretty good. Then, when I still wasn't tired, still had energy after football practice and stuff, so my eighth-grade year, before I got to high school, she put me in track.
From then on, I kept working and got better. I had opportunities and took advantage of them.
Frierson: Do you remember a first big, successful moment, one where you realized that you might have a future beyond high school?
Smith: I would say around my sophomore year, when I was running track. I was like, OK, I'm pretty fast. Then I was getting invited to big meets around the country, like the Prefontaine Classic, that's one I won. Another one was in Boston, the adidas Dream 100. Only four or five guys got invited to that, so then I was like, Oh, I must be good. Then I got invited to the USATF (USA Track and Field) event down in Miami, and I placed third in the 100.
Frierson: Why are you here playing football instead of running track somewhere?
Smith: Because I love it. I wouldn't do it if I didn't love it. (Preseason camp) is a grind, 14 days in a hotel, it ain't easy, it'll drive you crazy, but I love it.
Frierson: Was there ever an internal debate of football versus track?
Smith: There definitely was a debate. I was doing two sports, and I loved both, obviously, but it was hard letting go of track, for sure, because of the love I have for it. I love running, period.
Frierson: Take me back to the Ohio State game. Was that the most fun football game you've ever played?
Smith: Definitely. It was a big moment, and I enjoyed it. My teammates were there for me and I celebrated with them. I feel like they were more happy than I was, really, because we practice composure all the time. Don't get too high, don't get too low. I scored and that was nice, but the game ain't over yet.
Frierson: When you're running free and you know you're going to score a really long touchdown, what is it like in that moment?
Smith: You feel free, man. All you hear is wind, your pads, the sound of you running, and people screaming. You feel good. Making my family proud. It's what you dreamed of; it's the biggest moment I've had in my life on a football field.
Frierson: What do you do to get away from football and school?
Smith: I love to sleep, I love to run, I love to work out, I love to eat, hang out with my friends, play basketball; I love to fish and get outside.
Frierson: What is your best or favorite fishing story?
Smith: There was one from not too long ago. Me and Dan Jackson went fishing somewhere ... and we had a really good day. We caught six or eight five above 5 pounds; we were snatching them in. We caught like 40 fish that day.
Frierson: What's the biggest fish you've ever caught?
Smith: Probably like an 8- or 9-pound bass, down in Florida. I've been deep-sea fishing before too, for grouper and snapper, stuff like that. I haven't been in a long time but I do want to go again.
Frierson: What's something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
Smith: Candy [laughs]. I don't eat it every day but I could. I love sugar and sweets.
Frierson: If you walk into a convenience store and head to the candy aisle, what's the first thing you're grabbing?
Smith: Probably some sour candy. And if I don't want any sour candy, I'm going to grab something chocolate, like an Almond Joy or Snickers or Twix.
Frierson: Looking at it from the outside, football seems so complicated. It's like a foreign language that most of us can't really speak. As a player, how hard was it to learn the language of football and the offensive system?
Smith: Freshman year, probably one of the hardest things I ever did was get a signal and line up. Now, it's more second-nature and easier, for sure. I don't have to worry about learning, I've just got to worry about giving good effort.
Frierson: Who is the funniest guy on the team?
Smith: There are a lot of funny guys on the team. I would say myself but it's probably (defensive lineman) Warren Brinson. It's got to be Warren. He's honest, no filter, and he's going to tell you what he's thinking. He's going to say something funny every day.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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