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Hawks' Smith Picks Auburn

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By ADAM ADKINS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 20, 2008

SEFFNER - Eric Smith knew for a while he would be a Tiger in college. Until this week, however, the Armwood standout running back didn't know whether he would be an Auburn Tiger or a Clemson Tiger.

Saturday, Smith made public his college choice, announcing he would attend and play football at Auburn at an afternoon news conference in front roughly 50 friends, coaches and teammates at a Seffner-area Beef O'Brady's.

It was a fitting scene, considering that same type of family atmosphere and surrounding present in the restaurant ultimately is what led him to choose the Southeastern Conference school after taking an official visit to the Auburn campus last weekend.

"Basically it was that visit that took me over. That visit to Auburn. I talked to a lot of people. I felt that family atmosphere," Smith said. "I talked to all the coaches and I talked to every running back, and all of them had only good things to say about Auburn University, and it wasn't a show. At least that's what I felt."

There was a time Smith, a Tribune All-Hillsborough County first-team selection and a Class 4A third-team all-state selection this season after rushing for 1,291 yards and 14 touchdowns while helping the Hawks advance to the state semifinals, felt the same way about Clemson.

Smith admitted he was so impressed during his trip to Clemson in November that he was ready to verbally commit to the ACC program. However, he ultimately decided to wait on giving a commitment to any program until after he took his official visit to Auburn. And during that time, Smith said there was a clear-cut difference in which school showed it wanted him more.

"Auburn was still there, right at the corner, all the way," Smith said.

ALL-STATE: Riverview teammates Jahleel Addae and Tamaha Halaufia and Durant teammates Royce Rose and Cole Gilliam were named Saturday to the Florida Sports Writers Association's Class 6A All-State Team.

Addae, a senior running back, and Halaufia, a senior linebacker, each were third-team selections. Rose, a senior tight end, and Gilliam, a junior offensive lineman, each were honorable mention selections.

(For the complete 6A team, see Page 17.)

Reporter Adam Adkins can be reached at (813) 657-4533 or aadkins@tampatrib.com.

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