A four-year letterwinner on the football field at North Clayton (Ga.) High School for coach Rodney Hackney, Matthew Smith is a defensive lineman who was putting up big numbers for the Eagles through the first five games of his senior season before a knee injury cut his prep career short. He helped the team go 4-1 through the early part of the schedule before finishing 10-3 and going three rounds into the state 4-AAAA playoffs. Smith accounted for 46 total tackles and five tackles for loss in his five contests. He plans to major in mechanical engineering.

PERSONAL: The son of Paul and Amelia Smith...birthdate is November 24, 1991...full name is Matthew Ellis Smith...enrolled in general curriculum.