‘These trips back home mean a lot to me’: NFL player, Columbus native describes emotional return

Hardaway High School alum Marcus Smith II stays busy with his NFL pursuits, but the league’s offseason gave him a chance to come home.

Smith tweeted Monday night about his return to Columbus and his alma mater. As he explained through his tweets, the return home was not only a chance to see friends and family, but to share what he’s learned.

“My most recent trip back home gave me a lot of new perspective. I got to spend time with family, talk about old times and think about how far God has taken me — so far,” Smith said. “My high school coach (Hardaway defensive line coach Chris Liesendahl) actually cried when he saw me — he was just happy to see me doing well. Emotional moment.”

After having a standout career as a quarterback at Hardaway, Smith transitioned to linebacker while at Louisville. The move was a successful one for Smith, who was named the American Athletic Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.

Smith’s play at Louisville led the Philadelphia Eagles to take him with the 26th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Smith just finished his fourth season in the NFL and first with the Seattle Seahawks. He played in 14 games for the Seahawks, finishing the year with 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

Smith explained his visit wasn’t just about reminiscing about the past. Smith has experienced a lot since his days at Hardaway, and he’s eager to share those lessons with people who might one day follow in his footsteps.

“I like to talk to the kids a lot when I touch down at my old school. Who knows? Maybe my insight could mean something to someone in a position similar to where I was about ten years ago,” Smith said. “I tell the kids the truth — that being coachable in high school is a huge part of what helped me to reach the next level.

“My coach was always quick to humble me and get me back in line when I got off course. My willingness to listen changed my life. Talent was just one part of the equation.”

Before long, Smith will be back on the NFL grind in preparation for his fifth season. Although that means it will likely be a while before he comes back to Columbus, he seems content on making the most of the next opportunity.

“These trips back home mean a lot to me,” Smith said. “I hope that I’m able to help people every time I get back down that way.”

This story was originally published March 20, 2018 at 8:41 AM with the headline "‘These trips back home mean a lot to me’: NFL player, Columbus native describes emotional return."