BWI Daily: Get to know future Penn State quarterback Jaxon Smolik
Penn State is now just 12 days out from the start of the early signing period. The Class of 2023 rates among the best in the country, currently sitting at No. 14 overall and No. 2 in the Big Ten conference according to the On3 Consensus Team Rankings.
Like every recruiting class, there’s no shortage of fun personalities for fans to get to know this year, and that includes quarterback Jaxon Smolik. A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Smolik committed way back in August, but he’s still one of the more recent players to join the class, as only cornerback Zion Tracy has committed since.
Smolik’s rise to Penn State is one of the best stories in this year’s class. Committed to Tulane at the time, the Dowling Catholic quarterback earned a late invitation to the Elite 11 Final in Los Angles when Nico Iamaleava decided just 48 hours before the event that he wouldn’t participate. Despite having no time to prepare, Smolik put together a very strong performance, one that earned him top performer honors by multiple media outlets.
Related: Penn State Weekend Visitor Preview
With Marcus Stokes decommitting just after the Elite 11, Penn State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich quickly took notice of Smolik, asking him to travel to State College at the end of July to participate in PSU’s final prospect camps. Not only did he throw the ball well, but Smolik exceeded expectations athletically, leaving campus with an offer from the Nittany Lions that evening.
The 6–foot-1, 205-pound signal-caller kept it quiet publicly due to his commitment to the Green Wave, but come Aug. 11, he backed out of that pledge, switching to Penn State the very next day.
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That all came after Smolik missed the majority of his junior season with a collarbone injury. He returned this season for his senior year and was excellent, throwing for 1,967 yards and 19 touchdowns while completing 64 percent of his passes. He also earned first-team all-state honors, beating out Iowa State commit JJ Kohl.
With Smolik committing to Penn State right as the season got started, Nittany Lion fans haven’t gotten to know Dowling Catholic star like some other players in this class.
Because of that, Blue White Illustrated’s Thomas Frank Carr sat down with Smolik earlier this week, before this weekend’s official visit, to get to know the future quarterback both on and off the field. Fans can watch the complete interview above.
