Tatum Linebacker Kyshaun Smith Commits To Stephen F. Austin

The seven-day countdown to National Signing Day got off to a nice start for East Texas' largest university.

Tatum linebacker Kyshaun Smith announced via his Twitter account Wednesday he has accepted a scholarship opportunity to Stephen F. Austin in favor of FBS offers from Houston, Memphis, North Texas and Texas State.

Smith (6-2, 185) and the rest of the area's football scholarship holders can make it official next week by signing a National Letter of Intent.

The linebacker helped Tatum navigate the tough waters of Class 4A. He led the team with 110 tackles on the way to a third-place finish in District 6-4A Division II and an appearance in the Region II semifinals.

Tatum had been a Class 2A school in the two years prior.

Smith will join a Lumberjacks program coming off a strong 2014 campaign.

Under first-year head coach Clint Conque, Stephen F. Austin went 8-4 in the regular season and was one of three Southland Conference schools to be selected for the FCS playoffs. It fell on the road to Northern Iowa in the first round of the 24-team bracket.

There's reason for more optimism in Nacogdoches. The squad only lost 17 players to graduation and has a solid depth buildup, including 12 returning lettermen from East Texas high schools.

Smith will have the opportunity to take on the state's top FBS programs during him time with the program. Stephen F. Austin will visit a TCU team projected to start the season in the top five on Sept. 12 and has agreed to open the 2016 season at Texas Tech.

The son of Travian Smith, a former Oklahoma and Oakland Raiders linebacker, Kyshaun Smith is a quick and physically imposing defender. He performs well in outside containment, has a history of beating offensive linemen through their gaps for quick tackles and plays very disciplined in his special teams roles.

Tatum athlete Chaston Brooks will join Kyshaun Smith in the spotlight next week. Brooks is expected to sign with Lamar.