The concerns about DeAndre Smelter’s capacity to play college football after playing baseball for three seasons are melting in the August heat. The Georgia Tech wide receiver was the star of the Yellow Jackets’ Saturday morning scrimmage at Bobby Dodd Stadium, continuing his attention-commanding performance during the team’s preseason camp.
“He’s going to play,” coach Paul Johnson said. “He keeps making plays.”
Smelter made two difficult catches from third-string quarterback Tim Byerly, one a 25-yarder and another for 36 yards in which he caught the ball with one hand as he fell to the ground.
“I’ve been high on DeAndre since he came out there,” B-back David Sims said. “He’s freakishly athletic – 6-2, 220 (pounds) – and moving.”
Smelter has made his mark among a crop of wide receivers that, aside from returning starter Darren Waller, is almost entirely bereft of playing experience. Smelter was recruited out of high school in Macon for football by Tech, Georgia, South Carolina and Auburn, among others, but chose to play baseball, his first love. Last spring, he decided to fulfill his desire to play both sports.
“He can get a lot better, but he’s also making a lot of plays already,” Lee said. “I think he’ll get a lot better.”
Smelter acknowledged there’s more work to do.
“Speed of the game is the biggest adjustment for me,” he said. “During my training in the summer, I’ve just tried to work on my footwork and get better at making my cuts.”
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