Patterson High offensive lineman Destin Smith, shown in the top photo with his mother, Tina Johnson, signed a letter of intent Thursday to attend and play football for East Texas Baptist University in Marshall. Smith, 6-3 and 315 pounds, was a three-year starter for the Lumberjacks, who went 8-5 and reached the state quarterfinals in 2022. In the bottom photo, Smith's family gathers around for the letter signing. Shown from left are grandmother Sandra Turner, mother Tina Johnson, Destin Smith, father Marques Smith and stepmother Shameka Smith.
The Review/Bill Decker
UPDATED WITH STORY: Lumberjack Destin Smith signs with East Texas Baptist
PATTERSON — Like nearly all offensive linemen, Destin Smith labored in relative obscurity as he helped Patterson High reach the state football quarterfinals in November. But Thursday was his day in the spotlight.
Smith signed a letter of intent Thursday to attend and play football for East Texas Baptist Universi-ty in Marshall.
These letter signings — and there have been several recently at Morgan City High, Central Catholic, Berwick and Patterson — have become events. They’re usually in the school gym, often with cake and soft drinks, always with balloons, helmets and fans in college T-shirts.
It’s a family time. Among the relatives who were on hand Thursday were Smith’s grandmother, Sandra Turner, who served on the Patterson City Council, and Tina Johnson, who served on the council after Turner moved out of the city.
And there was a proud dad, Marques Smith, who once played on the offensive line for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Did Destin Smith get any fatherly advice?
“He just told me to follow my heart,” Destin said.
“He’s a good kid, a great program guy,” said Patterson head coach Garrett Kreamer of his three-year starter. “He was a leader and a captain.”
Smith played both guard and tackle in high school, Kreamer noted. “He’ll do great at the college level.”
Smith heads off to college with plans to study kinesiology and put his 6-3, 315-pound frame to work for East Texas Baptist’s offensive line.
And if he doesn’t get reams of publicity, that’s OK.
“I get off seeing my teammates score touchdowns,” Smith said. “To do my job and see my teammates win, I’m happy.”
One thing is certain: Smith’s play and size caught the eye of the Texas university. And the feeling was mutual. Smith said East Texas Baptist is a good fit “financially, spiritually, emotionally and everything that goes with it.”
Smith will join a program that competes in NCAA Division III and is part of the American Southwest Conference. After East Texas Baptist finished 5-5 in 2022, its eighth straight year of finishing at .500 or better, head coach Brian Mayper retired.
On Nov. 15, the school announced the promotion of defensive coordinator Calvin Ruzicka to head coach.