A Lamp Unto My Cleats

The story of Trey Smith’s NFL career nearly ended before it began.

Smith entered college as one of the most highly regarded prospects in the 2016 class.  He was a member of MaxPreps 2016 All-American First Team, along with such future NFL players as Najee Harris, D’Andre Swift, Tee Higgins, Cam Akers, Chase Young, and Walker Little. He signed on to play for the Tennessee Volunteers and saw action on the field immediately as a freshman.

It couldn’t have happened to a better, more deserving guy.  Smith had already lived through tragedy – losing his mother when he was just 15 years old, who died at age 51 of congestive heart failure.  And he went through everything with a great attitude. As a high school student, he put one of his favorite Bible Verses, Matthew 23:12, on his Twitter account.  In that verse, Jesus tells us that whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.   

Smith explained what that verse means to him to Rob Maadi on the Faith on the Field Show: “You see a lot of dudes who are super-flashy and pretty much almost conceited, arrogant in High School and it sort of, like, ticked me off, and, at the end of the day, I didn’t want to be that guy.  I wanted to take the humble road and I love that verse because it’s like, you know, guys are flashing it all around and doing all these things and whoever exalts himself will be humbled… You stay humble and you stay lowkey; you stay grinding and you keep trusting and believing in God and doing your thing – not everyone needs to see it, you know, because eventually God’s going to put you on a platform Himself.  You’ll have your own opportunity, it will come.  His glory will be able to shine through you.  You won’t have to do all that yourself.”

Smith was a humble and mature young man and a hard worker.  His college football career was going wonderfully and a career in the NFL seemed nearly inevitable.

Until his sophomore season.

During the season, Smith struggled to make it through practices. Medical tests ensued and he was finally diagnosed with a blood clot disorder known as pulmonary emboli.  The University of Tennessee doctors worked out a medical plan for him and he was cleared to play as a junior.  He went to on start 12 out of 13 games and did not allow a sack.  He was awarded the first ever “Fritz Pollard” award, which honors college players who have shown extraordinary courage.  He returned to Tennessee for his senior season, after which he was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 6^th Round of the 2021 NFL draft.  Perhaps he should have been selected much higher.  Chief’s GM, Brett Veach, said that, had it not been for the medical issues, Smith would have likely been a first or second round selection.

Smith has had great success in the NFL.  He has started 50 regular season games and 3 playoff games through his first three seasons, as of this writing.  He already has one Super Bowl win against the Philadelphia Eagles following the 2022 season, in which the Chiefs offensive line prevented the top-rated Eagles pass rush from recording a single sack.  Smith will play in his second Super Bowl this upcoming Sunday.

Smith credits his faith for helping him make it to where he is.  He told Maadi, “Putting God first is sort of the mantra.  For me, I had a lot of things I had to overcome and deal with, a lot of adversity, and the common denominator has been my faith to bring me through…  I’m walking by faith and not by sight necessarily.  The path in front of me might be bleak but also that He has a plan for me.  He’s not gonna fail me.”