Recruiting open for Washington 4A Kingco Player of the Year DB/ATH Bryce Smith
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
In any sport, the want is to improve year by year. For Bryce Smith, the skill jumps from junior to senior campaigns were big. Playing all over the field for Bellevue High School (Bellevue, WA), Smith (6-1, 170) was showing up at the same places as the year before, but this time with game-changing authority. Growing into that player college coaches want, Smith earned 3A/4A Kingco Player of the Year honors in 2024. Good news, the three-star prospect is still on the open recruiting market.
The Wolverines crushed through the regular season and into the playoffs ending with a 12-1 record. Their senior leader truly showed up everywhere racking up 40 tackles, five interceptions, with 13 passes broken up.
In the other two phases, Smith carried the rock 65 times for 877 yards with 11 scores, caught a 28-yard TD pass, and took back 10 kicks and punts for 425 yards with three more touchdowns.
“I played corner, free and strong, running back, some receiver, and some at quarterback this year,” Smith stated.
College scouts see Smith in the secondary.
2025 DB/ATH Bryce Smith at Colorado State.
“They are recruiting me to play safety, corner, nickel – anywhere in the back,” Smith shared.
Given all that he did for Bellevue, Smith was asked if there’s an overlooked aspect to his game.
“I feel like I am a great open field tackler, but there’s not much of that on film,” Smith said. “That is a rare thing for DBs these days.”
On what he does well as a defensive back, Smith replied, “I communicate on the backside. I look up my threats, and when I get to my threats, I find ball and get ball. My closing speed is great, my opening, and my breaks.”
Asked in which game he played his best, Smith replied, “The Kingco championship game, because of how dominating I was. Now that I am thinking about it, it was the Roosevelt game before O’Dea.”
A three-sport athlete for his Bellevue school suiting up in football, basketball, and track, Smith talked about his personal best in track.
“I compete in the long and high jump,” Smith stated. “My PR in high jump is 6-foot, 6-inches, or 6-foot, 4-inches. In the long jump it is 22.05.”
Offers have come through for Smith from Arizona, Boise State, Colorado State, Eastern Washington, Nevada, and Portland State.
With Smith’s recruiting process still open, he spoke about what that ideal college program will have when he signs, “A team that is a brotherhood where everyone loves everyone. I am looking for coaches that are looking for more than a football player, and coaches that will help make me a better person. I also want a team that wants to win.”
Click the link to see Bryce Smith’s Hudl.
Photo credit: Smith family – Bryce Smith at Colorado State