Logan Smith is not only among the most popular teammates at Ozark, he’s well liked at Nixa.
Smith, a senior left tackle, reports the bond between offensive linemen is such that it goes beyond the Ozark-Nixa rivalry. The Tigers and Eagles will see each other tonight as part of a jamboree at Kickapoo with the host Chiefs.
“I have a great connection with the Nixa offensive linemen,” Smith said. “During football, we might have some chippiness to us. There's always that competitive itch during football. But off the field we're all good and during track as well. We have some of the same friends.”
Smith counts the Eagles’ Jacob Lile, Zach Austin, Dylan Terry, Jackson Cantwell and Hayden Mays as friends.
“Whenever I got my offer (from Southwest Baptist), Lile congratulated me and when he got his (offers) I was congratulating him,” Smith said. “With track (during the shot put and discus), I get to talk to Zach, Dylan Terry, Jackson and Hayden. They're pretty good friends of mine.”
Smith, or ‘Big Country’ as he is affectionately known, holds as much respect within Ozark’s locker room as any of the Tigers. He’s a two-year captain.
Amidst the slew of injuries that relentlessly jabbed at Ozark last season, Smith’s torn ACL in Week Four versus Willard was viewed by Tigers coaches as the blow that hurt the most.
Coach Jeremy Cordell quickly gained a strong appreciation in his first year at Ozark for the intangibles Smith brings the Tigers.
“I think he really values my leadership,” Smith said. “I’m able to be the anchor the offensive line. My job is to pull everyone together and make us work hard. I hold everyone together, I guess.”
Even while out for the season and hobbling around on crutches, Smith remained a constant figure at Ozark practices and games.
“I came to all the practices I could, unless I was at a doctor's appointment or something,” he said. “(Coaches and players) called me a coach.”
The experience won’t quite be a sign of things to come. Smith remains an aspiring business or marketing major.
“I don't think I'm going to get into coaching,” he said. “I might coach youth (football) when my son comes through. But I don't think I will coach outside of that.”
With Smith and the rest of Ozark’s offensive linemen now outfitted in knee braces, he feels primed for the kind of season he’s been working toward. He packed 40 pounds on his 5-foot-10 frame over the off-season.
“I'm at 280 now,” Smith said. “I'm very happy with how far I came in the off-season. I’ve had consistent training, working hard in the weight room. Obviously, I have been eating very good breakfasts and then during the day I have quite a few of Uncrustables. They're good.”
