Interview: UCA keeps Conway QB Breylin Smith at Home for College

Written by Ryan Wright

All success stories have to start somewhere and for Breylin Smith his began and will extend in Conway, Arkansas. On Tuesday the Conway High School star verbally committed to UCA agreeing to a few more years in central Arkansas.

Interest in Smith really started to take off after his junior year when he helped the Wampus Cats to an 11-1 record that included throwing for 2,075 yards with 20 touchdowns against just five picks. Offers came in from Central Arkansas and Southeast Missouri State with teams like Arkansas State, Georgia, Ole Miss, North Carolina, Oklahoma State, Notre Dame, and Stanford all showing some signs of interest.

Other offers may come in after he made the college camp circuit during the offseason showcasing his abilities at Arkansas State, Tulsa, Memphis, and Louisiana-Monroe. After camping with in-state powerhouse program Arkansas, the Razorbacks extended a preferred walk-on offer to the 6’3”, 190 pound, recruit, but Smith now has other plans.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview I caught up with Breylin in the middle of the celebratory aftermath of his announcement to get a quick update on how his commitment came about.

Interview
Breylin, first, congratulations on your commitment to UCA.

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

What influenced you to commit UCA today?

“Just being at home and that being a place that I grew up around and they were one of the first places that offered me. From the get-go they put it down that I was a guy they wanted in this class. Every time I went to a camp or something they made sure I knew that I was their guy. I just really appreciated that especially going to a college where you’re going to be playing for the next four to five years. You want to go somewhere where you are wanted. That was really a big thing for me to commit there.”

How did the commitment take place? I know you’re in the same town, so did you go onto campus or call the coaches to give them your commitment?

“Actually I didn’t know if they were going to be at the school or not. So I just called Coach (Nathan) Brown (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach) and told him. I told him I was in and ready to go. He got excited. After that about 10-15 minutes later I called Coach (Steve) Campbell and told him.”

What was the reaction of the Coach Brown and Coach Campbell when you committed?

“Coach Brown was excited. He didn’t know what to say. I could tell he was real excited. He was telling me “that’s great” and that he wanted me to help recruit the rest of the class. When I talked to Coach Campbell he said the same thing that he was excited and happy with the choice I made. We started talking about the future.”

In regards to the future, what did Coach Campbell talk to you about in that regard? Was he talking about how they are going to best utilize your skill set?

“Really it was just about putting pieces together and people around me but more about the pieces for the 2016 class. Chris (Kershner), the kid from Dardanelle, he committed last night and now it’s just adding pieces to the puzzle so we can have the best team we possibly can or the best class I should say.”

Did the coaches give you a list of kids to start help recruiting or how is that going to work?

“Coach Brown and I started talking about a little last week. The first one I started talking to is Chris Kershner (wide receiver). We talked for about a week all last week. We were talking about what we were going to do. I told him I wanted to play with him and he told me I want to play with you so then we decided to come out and make it official at the same time. He made his announcement last night. He told me and I said probably do mine tomorrow.

“The next person we are going to try to after is Tobias Enlow (wide receiver) from North Little Rock. He’s the next guy on our list right now.”

How will you sell recruits on joining you at UCA?

“Probably the biggest thing is how the program is growing and how fast it is growing. UCA, the football team is on the rise, and I think that’s the thing kids want to hear, “Okay this program is coming up.” Everyone wants to take the program they are playing for to the next level. I think that will be a lot of how we will pitch him. As Arkansas guys, for all of us to play together and be kind of like the Arkansas dream team, something cool like that. That’s pretty much it.”

What are you doing tonight to celebrate your commitment?

“Nothing really. I’ll hang out with some friends and go bowling or something like that. We may go swimming because it’s so hot outside.”

Congratulations again Breylin and good luck at UCA.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: Conway High School; No. 3 Breylin Smith.