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RANKINGS
Hugh Smith is all of 6-foot-5, 300-pounds of Ridge Point Panther
STRAIGHT OUT OF CENTRAL CASTING: Ridge Point’s Smith is built for Texas High School Football
If Hollywood needed to cast a Texas high school offensive lineman, they wouldn’t have to look much further than Hugh Smith.
“Yep, I like to hunt, fish, play video games… and a good nap,” the 6-foot-5, 300-pound Ridge Point junior laughed. “Oh, and Whataburger, Raising Cane’s, and Chick-fil-A before a game, too.”
And there you have it.
Smith anchors one of the best returning offensive lines in the state alongside fellow DI prospects Avery Morcho and Jordan Burnett. Together, they form the heart of a Ridge Point squad looking for more in 2025.
“We just make each other better,” Smith said. “If I see something at the line of scrimmage or they do, we’re communicating. The heart of every great team is their offensive line.”
The Panthers have won five-straight district championships under coach Rick LaFavers and made it to the Regional Semis in 2020. But Smith believes there’s something special about this year’s team.
“We’ve got dudes at every position,” he said. “We know we can get to AT&T Stadium this year. There’s just something different about this team.”
While Smith preps for his senior season, his future is also coming into focus. The recruiting game has heated up, and he’s ready.
“For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamed of playing college football and maybe beyond,” Smith said. “When I got my first offer from the University of Houston, it hit me—it was a moment.
“Since then, I’ve worked hard on my craft. Last year, it was about technique, using my hands, and being aggressive—finishing my blocks. This offseason, it’s about speed, endurance, and strength. I want to beat my man every play, all game.”
Smith has a trio of official visits lined up: Arizona State, Arkansas, and Houston.
“I’m trying to go somewhere that will develop me to get to the pros,” he said. “It’s all about fit, too… the atmosphere, college life, academics, and the fans.
“I don’t mind watching and learning as a freshman. Seeing my teammates compete against the best in the country and picking up the speed of the game isn’t lost on me.”
A 4.2 GPA student, Smith envisions a future in finance. But for now, he’s focused on being a great teammate—with his eyes on Jerry World.
Straight out of Friday Night Lights, with a little Whataburger on the side.
BREAKING: Allen Lands Long-Time College Coach Chad Morris
Just two weeks removed from Terry Gambill announcing that he would step away from the helm of the Allen Football Program, the district dropped a bomb. Today, Chad Morris was named the next head coach of the Allen Eagles.
Coming off of a decade-long run in College Football that saw him helm programs at SMU (2015-2017) and Arkansas (2018-2019), Morris will head to Allen to lead one of the country's premier High School Football Programs. If you're not quite up to speed on the Chad Morris saga, don't worry, we've got you covered.
🚨BREAKING🚨
Allen lands a HUGE name to lead the Eagles. Chad Morris comes to Allen off of a decade-long run in CFB, most recently as OC at Auburn. 🏈🏈🏈
The future looks BRIGHT in Allen, TX! #txhsfb https://t.co/0jwbt1Vaxb
— VYPE DFW (@VYPEDFW) March 31, 2021
Morris' tenure at the collegiate level started with a flash. After just one year of college experience, Morris was hired as the Offensive Coordinator at Clemson University. In his four years at Clemson, Morris led the Tigers' Offense to new heights, posting two Top 10 finishes in Total Offense. After his success at Clemson, SMU gave Morris his first opportunity to lead a college program. Over three years, Morris led the Mustangs to a 14-22 mark, which many considered to be a remarkable feat given SMU's recent struggles.
Perhaps his most notable tenure, though, was at the University of Arkansas. Morris was hired by the Razorbacks in 2018 as an up-and-coming young coach looking to prove his worth in the SEC. What followed was hard to watch. With Morris at the helm, the Razorbacks posted a 4-18 record, and won zero conference games in nearly two years. Morris was let go near the end of his second season.
Though, Morris isn't just known for all of that. In Texas, Chad Morris is best known as the man who led Lake Travis on an all-time run. In his final High School job, before bolting to the NCAA, Morris led the Cavaliers to Back-to-Back 4A DI State Championships and a 32-0 overall record. The Cavaliers haven't looked back.
Only time will tell if Allen has made the correct decision in Morris but with a pedigree like his, you'd be hard-pressed to blame them. Morris may not have been a hit on the college stage but, then again, few are. The hire of Morris certainly puts the Eagles in the spotlight, and with his proven experience and unparalleled success at the high school level you've got to be impressed with what Allen has done.