In-state RBs making noise

Patterson shines for Oakland

Once again, Murfreesboro Oakland finds itself as one of the top 6A teams in the state of Tennessee. Currently the Patriots are 8-1 and ranked No. 2 in the state's AP Poll. Led by big name wide receiver and LSU commit JaCoby Stevens, one might think that the team is just the prep version of Michael and the Jordanaires.

If you believe that you would be wrong. Running back Lazarius Patterson is destroying that myth. The 6-foot-0, 185 pound junior has amasses 551 yards rushing and ten touchdowns in his last three games. Patterson leapt on the scene two weeks ago when Oakland hosted Riverdale in the annual Battle of the Boro. He had 243 yards rushing, including three touchdown runs of 82, 10, and 65 yards.

He followed it up with 219 yards rushing and three scores this past Friday night against Cookeville.

Despite the recent success, Patterson is still basically new to the recruiting scene and has yet to collect any scholarship offers. Expect that to change quickly.

"I don't understand why colleges haven't offered yet," said his Head Coach Kevin Creasy. "He's a really good running back, and he runs a legit 4.4."

Patterson told VandySports.com that he ran that official forty time at Tennessee Tech camp last summer. He just now is learning to use that speed to his advantage, and he has also had to learn a new offensive scheme as Creasy was hired as the new Oakland Coach earlier in the year.

"I'm starting to understand the offense and the movement.

I'm also learning patience, because if I wait for a hole to come open, I can hit it and bust one."

Then Patterson's athletic ability can take over.

"I run hard and powerful. If there isn't a hole, I can make one. I can get the tough yards. I also have the speed to outrun people."

Patterson says seeing the pipeline of college players up close coming out of Oakland has served to his advantage.

"I'm fortunate to play with JaCoby right now. He's a Division I player. A lot of players never get to see one, I get to see it every day. Last year we had players go to Tennessee and Vanderbilt, so I'm very fortunate."

Meanwhile, Patterson will be patient off the field, keep working on getting bigger, faster, and stronger, go to off-season exposure camps, and wait for the scholarship offers to come.

But don't expect him to have to wait very long.

Sophomore getting it done for Spring Hill

There may not be much noise surrounding the name Dontae Smith. But don't expect things to stay that way. The local Spring Hill (Tenn.) fans rave about the 5-foot-8, 170 pound running back/safety who is a sophomore as well.

Smith can get to the edge out of the backfield, then has the extra gear to explode into the secondary. He is one of those backs who has the ability to score from anywhere on the field once he touches the ball.

Smith also has strength and is a weight room junkie. "We lift almost every day, but I like to go lift in other gyms when we get through."

Despite only being a sophomore, he has rare muscle development for a player his age. Smith says he currently benches 220, squats 430, dead-lifts 440, and power cleans 230.

Smith describes his running style simplistically. "I try

to outrun everybody, if I can't, I try to overpower them."

The well-spoken young man also says he is in good shape academically, and grades will not be an issue on the next level. "I currently have three B's and one A this semester."

Although scholarship offers have not come his way as of yet, he has heard from Vanderbilt.

"I get mail from them to go to their camps," he said. "I like them. I actually like their pieces on offense. They will improve. I also like that school."

Smith knows he still has two more seasons to play after this one, and has a plan to improve.

"I went to the National Playmakers Academcy in Knoxville last summer, so I will go to more exposure camps, and I am also just going to continue to work hard. When times get tough, just work hard."