By TIM TUTOR/Sports Editor

Pontotoc High senior infielder Jake Smithey was not recruited by Mississippi State during the 2010 high school baseball season, but it looks like he may become a Bulldog after all.

According to Gene Swindoll’s June 7 original story on the premium page at genespage.com, the three-time All-Division selection and 2010 Player of the Year in 1-4A has been given the opportunity to walk on at Mississippi State this coming fall.

Back in early February of this year, Smithey signed a letter of intent to render his services to Itawamba Community College in both baseball and football.

“They (MSU) really started recruiting me after everybody's baseball season was over,” Smithey said.

After hearing from several folks about Jake, including Pontotoc High head coach Phil Webb, the State coaching staff decided to visit with him.

Smithey took a trip to Starkville to talk with MSU assistant coach Butch Thompson.

“When I got down there, he said the reason they hadn't been recruiting me earlier was because I had already signed with ICC and it was a respect issue,” Smithey explained.

“Everything went real well and I liked what I saw and he offered me a chance to come down there and play. That was a thrill. I have always been a State fan.”

It appears likely he is going to take the opportunity and see how it goes this fall.

“I told him more than likely that I would be coming down there,” said Jake, who has a 32 on his ACT and a 4.78 GPA on a 4.00 scale.

“I’ve been getting all my paperwork finished so I can go there.”

Coach Webb, who has just finished his seventh season as the head coach of the Pontotoc Warriors, said “I’m just tickled for Jake. It’s a great opportunity for him.



“This is something he’s always wanted to do. It’s something that doesn’t happen all the time, and he’ll get to go down there and show them what he can do.”



Smithey could be Coach Webb’s first player to play in the Southeastern Conference.

In the Swindoll article, Jake also talked about what the State coaching staff likes about him.

“Coach Thompson said he likes my size, my strength and my ability to hit and hit for power,” he noted.



Pontotoc American Legion head coach Nickey Browning agrees with that assessment.

“I have watched him play the last two years and he has gotten better and better every year that he has played," Browning said.



“He has a lot of power and can hit the ball a long way. He is one of those kids that has the frame for it.



“He is a big kid who is 6-2 to 6-3 and 225 pounds. He runs really well for a big guy (4.8 in the forty and 6.8 in the sixty).”

As of now, Smithey expects to play a corner infield position at Mississippi State.

“They expect me to play somewhere on the corner — first or third,” Jake said.



“Third base used to be my primary position, then I switched over to first base last year.”

Wherever he plays, Coach Browning expects him to excel.

“I think Jake can be a player for them,” Browning said.

“I think he is that good because he has that much talent.



“He is also a really good kid who is very quiet and a hard worker.

“He still has things he has to work on and I'm sure when he gets to Mississippi State they will work hard with him on those.

“But whatever they ask him to do, he will do it.”