Tatum Linebacker D’Torian Smith Gets First Offer From Air Force

D'Torian Smith makes 22 East Texas juniors with at least one FBS offer.

The United States Air Force Academy presented the big Tatum linebacker his first scholarship opportunity Friday evening. Smith first announced the news through his personal Twitter account.

With Smith (6-3, 225) on the big board, the region has the same number of potential FBS players today as signed with FBS programs in February. College summer camps and the full 2016 season are still on the horizon, making it very likely the current junior class will surpass the graduating senior class in identified football talent.

Air Force reached the Mountain West Conference championship game last year following an 8-4 regular season. A loss in the conference title game sent the team to the Armed Services Bowl in Fort Worth, where it fell to California.

A successful Air Force season is measured in part by how it does against the other Division I armed forces schools. Air Force defeated Army, 20-3, and lost to Navy, 33-11.

Head coach Troy Calhoun will be in Colorado Springs for a 10th consecutive year. He has a 67-50 overall record with the program.

Calhoun, who started his career as an Air Force graduate assistant and junior varsity coach after playing quarterback at Air Force, spent his intermediary time as a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at Ohio and Wake Forest before jumping to the NFL.

The Denver Broncos hired Calhoun away from Wake Forest to be an assistant coach in 2003 and the Houston Texans hired him as their offensive coordinator for the 2006 season, the year before he returned to Air Force as head coach.

Air Force students, naturally, are usually absorbed into the United States Air Force or other branches of the military upon graduation.

Smith was a bright spot for a winless Tatum team last season.

Tatum athletic director and head football coach Andy Evans retired from his coaching duties after the year concluded. Evans, who won two state championships and made a third title game appearance in 12 years at the school, will be an assistant athletic director going forward.

Craig Barker, formerly Kaufman's head coach, was hired to replace Evans in February. Barker led Kaufman to the District 8-4A Division I championship last season and a third round playoff appearance.

Tatum was realigned to District 8-4A Division II in February. Its league is rounded out by Diboll, Huntington, Jasper and Rusk.

Smith, like all high school football prospects currently in their junior year, will become eligible to sign with any school that offers him on Feb. 1, 2017.

2017 East Texas Football Players With Division I FBS Offers

• Judah Bell, Tyler Bishop Gorman, WR, 6-3, 180 — offers from Bowling Green, Coastal Carolina, Houston, Kansas, Memphis, Navy, North Texas, SMU, ULL, ULM, UTSA, Wyoming (12)
• Noah Bush, Athens, LB, 6-2, 225 — offer from Army (1)
• Lagaryonn Carson, Liberty-Eylau, DE, 6-4, 261 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor, North Texas, Oklahoma, TCU, Tennessee, Texas A&M (9)
• Trestan Ebner, Henderson, WR, 5-11, 180 — offers from Arkansas, Arkansas State, Colorado State, Houston, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi State, Missouri, North Texas, Ole Miss, SMU, Syracuse, UTSA, TCU, Tulsa (16)
• Montrell Estell, Hooks, WR/DB, 6-2, 180 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Alabama, Arizona State, Arkansas, Baylor, Kansas, Notre Dame, SMU, Texas A&M, Texas State, Texas Tech, Tulane (12)
• Octavius Evans, Center, WR, 6-2, 186 — offers from Indiana, Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Texas State, ULL (7)
• Ted Fuller, Harleton, RB, 5-11, 195 — offer from ULM (1)
• Austin Hawley, Gladewater, DB, 6-1, 200 — offer from ULM (1)
• Kollin Hurt, Gilmer, DB, 6-3, 175 — offer from ULM (1)
• Jordan Johnson, Hooks, ATH, 6-0, 195 — committed to Air Force (1)
• Kayce Medlock, Arp, ATH, 5-9, 186 — offers from Army, Colorado, Navy, SMU, Tulane, ULL (6)
• Damion Miller, John Tyler, WR, 6-1, 189 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Baylor, Houston, Kansas, Missouri, North Texas, Oklahoma State; Ole Miss; SMU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech (11)
• LaMarcus Morton, Gilmer, WR, 6-2, 175 — offers from Arkansas State, Colorado State, Houston, Indiana, Louisiana Tech, Memphis, Texas Tech, Tulsa, ULL, ULM, UTSA (11)
• Javontavius Mosley, John Tyler, CB, 6-1, 170 — offers from Arkansas State, Houston, North Texas, SMU, Southern Miss, Texas State, ULL, ULM, UTSA (9)
• Dhailon Phillips, Lufkin, WR, 6-3, 195 — offer from Texas State (1)
• Kordell Rodgers, Lufkin, QB/ATH, 5-10, 165 — offers from Arkansas State, Texas State, ULM (3)
• Makyle Sanders, Tyler Lee, S, 6-2, 175 -- offer from Memphis (1)
• Bryson Smith, John Tyler, QB/ATH, 6-0, 170 — offers from Air Force, Arkansas State, Bowling Green, Houston, New Mexico, North Texas, Purdue, SMU, Southern Miss, Texas State, Tulane, Tulsa, ULL, ULM, UTSA (15)
• D'Torian Smith, Tatum, LB, 6-3, 225 — offer from Air Force (1)
• Major Tennison, Bullard, TE, 6-6, 248 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, SMU, Texas Tech (12)
• Josh Thompson, Nacogdoches, CB, 6-0, 180 — offered by Arkansas State, Colorado State, Louisiana Tech, Minnesota, North Texas, Ohio, SMU, Texas State, Tulane, ULM, Utah, UTSA, Washington State, Wyoming (14)
• Traveion Webster, Longview, S, 6-0, 197 — offered by ULM (1)