Ex-Hardaway star Marcus Smith gives back by helping single moms

Marcus Smith became the latest NFL player and Columbus native to return to his hometown to give back Saturday. The current Philadelphia Eagles defensive end and 2010 Hardaway High graduate hosted a luncheon for single mothers on Saturday morning at the Columbus Public Library. The luncheon was started by Smith’s M2 Foundation.

“I started it because of my sister, who was a single mother through high school and college,” Smith said. “Today, we’re here to do a small luncheon to present what we have to offer to single mothers in the tri-city. To me, it means everything. In Columbus, there’s not a lot of foundations or organizations that care for single mothers.”

Smith’s sister, Jasmine, was thrilled when she heard her brother wanted to give back to the community with her as an inspiration.

“It’s amazing to me,” she said. “I’m just appreciative that he wants to go out and do for his community, especially single moms, because I feel we deserve it.

“(The foundation is) for single moms who feel like they’re left out. It’s also to reach out to other single moms to come together and be aware of what everyone else is doing, be more supportive, have each other’s back, and make a difference.”

Smith held the luncheon the day before he returns to the Eagles for the start of training camp. The third-year pro will return to a team with a new regime under new head coach Doug Pederson, who replaced Chip Kelly in the offseason.

“I’m excited. I’m ready to go,” Smith said. “I’ve been training (this summer) in Atlanta. I can’t wait.

“It’s a lot different. It’s a lot smoother because Coach Pederson was a player before. He can relate to us a lot more than Chip did because he’s been through it at the same level. When you have a coach who can tell you things that’s happened in his career that can relate to us, that makes you want to play for him even harder. Our first game is against Cleveland, and I hope people here can watch me tear it up.”

That first game against Cleveland will be against fellow Columbus native, Browns running back and Carver High grad Isaiah Crowell.

“I definitely will be getting his jersey,” Smith said. “He’s a Columbus native, and I can’t wait to hit him.”

The irony in Smith’s career is that he is now chasing quarterbacks when he starred as a quarterback himself in high school. He was on the 2009 4A All-Region Second Team his senior season before switching to defensive end his sophomore year at Louisville. The transition paid off as he was named third-team All-American by the Associated Press and first-team All American Conference.

“When I was a quarterback, it was definitely fun,” Smith said. “When I got to college, my coach thought I could make it in the NFL at a different position. I trusted what he was saying, and it worked out for the best.”

Now a stellar defensive player, Smith uses his experience behind center to his and his teammates’ advantage on game day.

“When we’re in the meeting rooms with the older guys, I tell them what to look for as a defender,” Smith said. “They know I played quarterback, so I could be that young guy telling them about quarterbacks in the NFL. We have to be athletic on defense to stop quarterbacks now.”

Prior to going back to his football mindset, however, Smith was able to reflect on his opportunity to give back to his hometown.

“I always said if I ever made it big, I’d come back and do something special,” Smith said. “Next year, I’m going to come back and do a 7-on-7 tournament with the high schools with a prize for the winner, so that’ll be a cool deal, too.”

Columbus City Councilor and Mayor Pro-Tem Evelyn Turner Pugh was one of the attendees for Saturday’s event. She says Smith comes from many in Columbus who were raised to never forget their roots.

“I think one of the most important things is when a child grows up in the community, goes off and does well, and comes back to share what he has, that’s a Christian,” Pugh said. “When you’re brought up that way — the Bible tells you to train up your child that way — they will do that. This is just another shining example in Columbus’ star there are people who are born here and care about others behind them and they want to give back.

“Your heart has to feel good.”

This story was originally published July 23, 2016 at 5:53 PM with the headline "Ex-Hardaway star Marcus Smith gives back by helping single moms."