GLASGOW – Dalvin Smith always knew he had the talent. He just had to stay healthy enough so that college recruiters could see it.

Smith finally enjoyed a full senior season in 2017 and was one of the area’s best football players. Western Kentucky took notice, and now he’ll have the chance to become a Hilltopper.

The Glasgow High School standout Smith has agreed to grayshirt for coach Mike Sanford’s WKU program. He’ll take classes this fall at WKU’s Glasgow campus, then join the Toppers in the spring of 2019 as a freshman wide receiver on a full football scholarship.

Friends, family members, teachers, coaches and teammates crowded into the Glasgow High School cafeteria Thursday to honor Smith. He teared up at one point thanking his parents during a short speech.

“It’s the best day of my life,” Smith said after the ceremony. “I honestly did not expect this coming out of four years of high school with multiple injuries.”

Smith first saw the field for the Scotties in 2014 as a freshman defensive back and was set to play a bigger role at wide receiver in 2015 as a sophomore. A season-ending leg injury dashed those plans.

Smith recovered in time for the 2016 season, but his junior campaign ended before it started. He suffered another leg injury in a preseason scrimmage against Russellville, robbing him of his junior season.

Smith once again recovered. Glasgow coach Jeff Garmon took the 6-foot-3, 225-pound athlete to college camps during the summer of 2017, hoping to increase his college exposure.

“I can remember him back during the summer, him at these camps making one-handed jump catches in the end zone,” Garmon said. “ … Everyone wanted him to get through the season and get healthy.”

Smith played all over the field as a senior in 2017 for Glasgow. Offensively, he completed 67 passes for 920 yards and 13 touchdowns, rushed 65 times for 582 yards and eight TDs and caught 20 passes for 444 yards and another seven scores. Defensively, Smith tallied 25 tackles and three interceptions.

Smith also plays basketball and participates in track and field for Glasgow.

“His senior year he was healthy, and you could just tell he had the natural ability a lot of people don’t have,” said teammate Gavin Burd, a defensive end. “His natural athleticism is second-to-none. He was a play maker.

“The way he made plays, it was an eye opener for a lot of people.”

WKU safeties coach and recruiting coordinator Jami DeBerry took notice of Smith and recruited the local star.

“He just wanted me to come up for a visit and wanted to see if I loved it,” Smith said. “I went for an official visit a couple of weeks ago and I loved it.”

Garmon also kept in touch with Sanford, showing the Hilltopper coach Smith’s senior film.

“Coach Sanford really showed an interest in him,” Garmon said. “That just means so much to me as a guy from Glasgow, Ky., that your one Division I coach in this area recognizes the talent that Dalvin has and commits to him.”

Sanford announced WKU’s 23-man Class of 2018 on Wednesday afternoon as part of National Signing Day. The Toppers’ class included one scholarship player from Kentucky, defensive back Shannon Bishop (Pleasure Ridge Park High School, Louisville).

Sanford emphasized that WKU will add more players from its home state, including grayshirts and preferred walk-ons. The coach said he aims “to get the best players from this state on our team.”

“When we sit down and watch film and evaluate as a full staff, we always sit down and watch film of our own backyard, always,” Sanford said Wednesday. “We always will. We’ll never change that.”{&end}