Joe Gaiter: What does football and baseball mean to you?
Amyr Smith: Both football and baseball have their very own special place in my heart .Both sports has taught me and instilled in me different traits. Football has taught me how to be a fight for everything and baseball has taught me how to deal with failure. One thing both of these sports have done for me throughout life is keep me out of trouble and kept me busy. Coming up in the environment that I did it wasn’t many people making it out to do something positive. So I had to separate myself from the bad and sports was always my get away.
Joe Gaiter: In 2015, the Atlanta Journal Constitution wrote an article about you.The title was “Overlooked Amyr Smith catches on at Morehouse”, In that article you said ” “Senior year I went through the season and I had 20 touchdowns and five interceptions, but I didn’t have the size, so I wasn’t really getting recruited by anybody,”. Was it hard during that time knowing you were better than others yet not getting the same looks because of your size?
Amyr Smith: Growing up size was always something I was missing but I didn’t really pay it no mind up. I always felt like heart was the most important thing to have. Up until my senior year in high school that’s when I realized size was wanted, not so much needed. No matter how big people were at camps and how many stars or offers people had, I would always be one of the best. I was winning MVP at camps but no real interest in me. I remember going into an athletic director office of a school and he told me “I love your film but standup next to me I’m. I would’ve offered you if you was 2 inches taller”. In my head I’m thinking what am I doing wrong. It was hard not knowing if I was gone be done with football after the season,
Joe Gaiter: What is your motivation?
Amyr Smith: My biggest motivation is for me to provide for my family. I know that is what everyone says but my family means the world to me. It was nothing my family didn’t do for me growing up so I want to be able to return the favor.
Joe Gaiter: What are the keys in playing wide receiver?
Amyr Smith: My keys at playing wide receiver are speed, elusiveness, and awareness.
Joe Gaiter: What are some of your football stats?
Amyr Smith:
-1425 receiving yards
-16 receiving touchdowns
-1 passing touchdown
-2 kick return touchdowns
-1403 return yards
Joe Gaiter: What have been your fondest memories playing football at Morehouse?
Amyr Smith: One of my fondest memories was during my freshman year and I was receiving a lot of post season award but the one that stood out to me the most was being named an All American. As a freshman who was just overlooked in high school I felt like that achievement was only the beginning for me.
Joe Gaiter: Is it hard to adjust to play baseball after football season?
Amyr Smith: It’s not hard to adjust from football to baseball it actually helps with conditioning. Baseball is a hard sport to play all together. It has nothing to do with the transition from football to baseball.
Joe Gaiter: What are some of your baseball stats?
Amyr Smith: Last year I was ranked number 1 in the nation in stolen bases until I tweaked my hamstring but I finish 3 in the conference with 35 stolen bases. I hit for a batting average of 2.80.
Joe Gaiter: What is your major and how do you plan to use it?
Amyr Smith: My major is kinesiology and I plan on using my degree to give back to the community. I plan on either going to teach at an inner city school or coach. I just feel like if we had more teachers in the inner city schools we will cut down on the dropouts and violence in our communities.
Joe Gaiter: Will you pursue football or baseball on the next level?
Amyr Smith: After I graduate from college I plan on pursuing a career in both football and baseball.
Joe Gaiter: What do you want your legacy to be?
Amyr Smith: I want my legacy to be the first person to make it professional in both baseball and football coming from an HBCU.
Joe Gaiter: Do you have any regrets in your athletic career?
Amyr Smith: I have no regrets during my college career. I believe everything happened for me to become the person I am today.
Joe Gaiter: Final Words?
Amyr Smith: I would like to thank family for always sticking by my side. Even when the times got rough, they never quit on me. I want to thank the whole Morehouse family from teachers, coaches, and faculty members for all their support throughout my 4 years .
Instagram—11_alive
Twitter—That_GuyAmyr
Facebook— Amyr Smith
Highlights:https://youtu.be/ZE_L7CCRayM
