Photograph by Stephen Buchanan
Old Dominion University Running Backs Coach Tony Lucas wants elite prospects for his program. So, Lucas told the North Caroline High School coaching staff if they had any such players, he’d be interested. He knew about the school’s past college players.
Current junior Zymear Smith, a dynamic offensive and defensive player, was exactly the type of player Lucas sought.
“He liked the tape of Zymear and offered him a scholarship,” North Caroline Football Coach Nic McMorris recalls. “If you are the fastest guy on the field, coaches are going to want you.”
The scholarship offer was a revelation. Smith, who eventually committed to the University of Alabama, realized he could go somewhere with football. “I really started working out harder in the weight room,” Smith says of his three-hour off-season training sessions at school.
Fast forward to the 2023 football season. Smith’s speed proved to be real. A North Caroline coach clocked him at 4.38 seconds (an uncommon time for a high school player) in the 40-yard dash. So, more tape on Smith was sent out to college coaches to evaluate.
McMorris hoped for another offer, particularly from regional schools that recruited the Eastern Shore like Towson University, or the University of Maryland. But interest in the 6-foot, 175-pound Smith picked up bigtime in November—more than anyone expected. Smith, named a 4-star recruit by a few national college football websites, garnered interest from two storied programs: Penn State University and the University of Tennessee.
“I was surprised by the offers,” Smith says. “I really didn’t expect to get them from that level of schools. Everybody was calling me, texting me. But I didn’t let it go to my head. I stayed focused.”
Some schools wanted Smith—ranked by ESPN.com as the 109th best player in the class of 2025—to play cornerback, while others saw him as a running back or wide receiver.
“In a span of two weeks, he had nine offers,” McMorris explains.
More scholarship offers came his way after the season. Smith, a Ridgely resident, received 20 in all. The big eye opener was Alabama in February. Smith visited Alabama in early March and verbally committed then. He chose the Crimson Tide over Penn State, Texas, and Tennessee. He’ll arrive at Tuscaloosa as a cornerback.
A 30-minute conversation with first-year Alabama Football Coach Kalen DeBoer helped convince Smith the Crimson Tide would be an outstanding fit. DeBoer replaced legendary coach Nick Saban (who won six national championships at Alabama) after his previous team, the University of Washington, lost to Michigan in the national championship game in January.
“Love everything about him (DeBoer),” says Smith, who also is enamored with the school’s winning tradition. “His record is like 104 and 12. I think the expectations are going to be the same as they were for Nick Saban.”
North Caroline’s season ended in December, but the 18-year-old Smith has stayed busy with football. He participated in the Rivals.com (Charlotte, North Carolina) and the Under Armour All-America (Baltimore) camps in April.
He competed in a series of drills against the best football recruits in the country at both camps. “I never back down from the competition,” Smith says. “I say, ‘Bring it on.’ It was such an honor.”
The North Caroline coaching staff appreciated having Smith on the varsity team. Smith ran for eight touchdowns and more than 900 yards as sophomore while catching 12 passes for 147 yards. He had more of an impact as a wide receiver during the 2023 campaign, hauling in 12 passes for 427 yards and four touchdowns. That’s a whopping 35 yards per reception. Smith also rushed for 670 yards and eight touchdowns on 90 attempts for a 9-2 team. On defense, he recorded three interceptions and made 22 tackles.
Smith had two games that were memorable. He rushed for five touchdowns and 175 yards in a 41-14 playoff win over Easton in 2022.
In 2023, Smith rushed for an 86-yard touchdown, caught an 80-yard touchdown, and returned an interception 45 yards for a score in a 21-14 win over Kent Island.
“With his athletic ability, he can do so many things,” rival Head Coach of Easton Matt Griffith says. “He can make a play running the ball, making a great catch, or on defense. He received all those offers, and he is going to Alabama. It’s a great opportunity for him. That’s for sure.”
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