O’Bannon High School’s Zi’Terrean Smith is expected to be a presence on both sides of the ball this upcoming football season.
At 6-foot-2 and 254 pounds, Smith is too talented of a football player to not play both ways. On offense, he plans to create plenty of big plays as a fullback. On defense, he plans to wreak havoc as a middle linebacker.
“I know that my team will need me to play both ways, but I really prefer playing defense,” Smith said. “I would rather tackle people than be tackled.”
Smith said he understands a lot is expected of him as he enters his senior season. A naturally quiet young man, Smith is hoping to become more of a vocal leader for his Greenwaves.
“My coaches have told me that I need to have a bigger voice on this team, and that is what I am expecting to do,” Smith said. “You can lead by example, but sometimes you also need to lead with your words.”
Coaches and teammates of Smith have been impressed with his work ethic for a number of seasons. O’Bannon second year head coach Lynn Lang said Smith’s maturity level has risen significantly since they met before last season.
“He is a very fun-loving young man, and he has always been a team player,” said Lang. “But, this year he is expected to be one of my leaders.”
Senior leadership will be needed this season more than ever for the players on the O’Bannon football team, Lang said. Uncertainty over the coronavirus pandemic has already been in place since spring practice was canceled months ago.
Three weeks ago O’Bannon football players began working on conditioning on their campus. The school is holding all of its workouts outdoors, and, in order to social distance, the team has moved its weight lifting equipment to the outdoors.
“There are a lot of health safety guidelines that we have to work under, and we are doing our best to follow all of them and keep our young people safe,” Lang said.
Last season, the Greenwaves were in rebuilding mode in Lang’s first year at the helm.
O’Bannon fans can expect a team that gets back to the basics on offense and a team that “hits you in the mouth” on defense.”
When Lang took over, the team had lost 21 seniors from the previous season.
