Jonathan Smith: From Flintstones to breakout season

By The Associated Press

Posted 4:55AM on Wednesday, November 19, 2003

Ever since he was a little kid, Jonathan Smith loved watching The Flintstones. Hence, his nickname _ Freddie, as in Fred Flintstone.These days, the Georgia Tech receiver has plenty of reasons to scream Yabba dabba doo! After a disappointing junior season, Smith is finishing his college career with a flourish.The diminutive senior _ Smith measures 5-10, 185 pounds _ is on pace for one of the top receiving seasons in school history with 57 catches for 925 yards.Thats not all. He also leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in punt returns with a 10.4-yard average. And dont forget his 52 yards rushing, which adds up to 124.8 all-purpose yards per game.Luckily, the ball is coming my way, Smith said. When it comes my way, I try to do something with it.Last Saturday, Smith had his most memorable game yet. He caught a touchdown pass. He threw a touchdown pass. He returned a punt for a touchdown.All within a seven-minute span of the fourth quarter, sparking the Yellow Jackets to a 41-24 victory over North Carolina.I think I did it once before in high school, Smith said of his three-way game. But it wasnt as big a deal as it is now.No kidding. Smith grew up in Argyle, a sleepy town in South Georgia that doesnt even have a stoplight. He played baseball, basketball and football at Clinch County High School, which taught him a thing or two about versatility.You can put me in the backfield, said Smith, who was an option quarterback in high school. You can put me in the slot. I can even take the snap sometimes.At Georgia Tech, Smith spent his first three years in the shadow of receivers Kelly Campbell and Kerry Watkins. Still, he managed to catch 53 passes as a sophomore, leading him to expect big things in 2002. Instead, he slumped to only 36 receptions.Last year wasnt what I had planned, Smith said. I had a few nicks and bruises, and I wasnt able to help the team as much as I hoped to. I knew I didnt want to have one of those seasons again.The Yellow Jackets couldnt afford another season like that, either. Smith was the most experienced receiver on the team, and there wasnt a whole lot of depth behind him.Over the summer, everyone looked to Smith as one of the leaders.All my coaches and teammates let me know I had to be a big part of the offense and the team, he recalled. I took on that role. Whenever I have the chance, I try to do the best things I can.Against North Carolina, Smith didnt do too much through the first three quarters. P.J. Daniels handled the bulk of the offensive load, on his way to rushing for 240 yards, the second-most in Georgia Tech history.The fourth quarter belonged to Smith, who became the first player in school history to pull off the touchdown trifecta.With Georgia Tech clinging to a 20-17 lead and less than 10 minutes remaining, Smith took a pitch from quarterback Reggie Ball on an apparent end-around. A defensive end sniffed out the play, but Smith gave a fake and lofted a 26-yard touchdown pass to Nate Curry.On the Yellow Jackets next possession, Smith scored by a more conventional route, grabbing a 30-yard touchdown pass from Ball. The Tech defense forced a three-and-out, and Smith quickly made it back to the end zone for the third time. Fielding a punt at his own 27, he returned it 73 yards for a touchdown that sealed the victory.For most of the game, P.J. was playing so good, so I was just blocking a lot, Smith said. In the latter part of the game, I started getting the ball. Luckily, some plays happened.Its not just luck. Smiths teammates marvel as his ability to get open and especially at what hes capable of doing with the ball in his hands.I see what he does to the other corners out there in game situations. He really does some amazing things, Georgia Tech cornerback Reuben Houston said. Jonathan definitely has big-play capabilities. Any time he does something, Im never surprised.As Smiths favorite cartoon character was apt to say: Yabba, dabba, doo.