Indiana University Athletics
‘Locked In’—Jaquez Smith Aims To Be Receiver Ready
7/13/2021 12:00:00 PM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The accolades are there for Jaquez Smith. Would you expect anything less from a four-star wide receiver prospect considered the eighth-highest rated player Indiana has landed since the scouting service era began in 2000?
But this 6-1, 200-pound true freshman understands his Indiana playing prospects start with the little things, the simple things, the things that lack glamour, but resonate with necessity.
Knowing what to do when the ball is snapped is priority No. 1.
"It's like they say around here, if don't know the playbook, you can't play," Smith says via recent Zoom opportunity. "That's the main thing I stay on. You have to lock in on that."
In case he forgets, wide receivers coach Grant Heard is there to remind him. So is his father, Marquis, once a Navy aviation mechanic/engineer.
"It's little things," the younger Smith says. "You have to make a schedule for yourself on when to get in the playbook. I stay in the playbook at least two hours a day. You have to do that to be ready at all times."
Readiness includes awareness of what defenses are doing, as well as everybody else on offense.
"The main thing is focusing on everybody's position, not just mine," Smith says. "Make sure I know where to line up, how to line up. It's just being ready."
It's a lot to learn, especially given Smith didn't arrive on campus until June. That puts him behind another four-star freshman receiver, Jordyn Williams, who enrolled for the second semester, and participated in spring practice.
"It's not difficult," Smith says, "but you have to learn it a lot faster. I came in during the summer time, so I don't have a lot of time to learn it."
Smith was a dominant receiver at Georgia's Westlake High School, ranking as the nation's No. 26 receiver by ESPN. Florida State wanted him. So did Auburn, Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, Pitt, Tennessee, and a bunch more Power 5 programs.
But Indiana got him, and he joins a strong group of receivers led by the reigning Big Ten Receiver of the Year, Ty Fryfogle.
They show him what it takes to thrive at the major college level.
"What I have learned is that we are all talented at the end of the day," Smith says, "but you have to know when to lock in and to stay in our playbook. Stay locked in.
"You have to know what the main thing is. Our main goal is getting to the national championship (game)."
At one time, any IU football player talking national championship would have generated laughter. Given the success of the last two seasons -- a 14-7 record, two bowl appearances and wins over perennial national powers Penn State, Michigan, and Wisconsin -- nobody laughs any more.
Smith has bought into that goal, along with what it takes to achieve it.
"You have to lock in. What they (veteran receiving teammates) are helping me with is just staying in the playbook. Lock in on the playbook."
If that sounds like a lot of repetition on the same playbook-and-lock-in theme, there's a good reason. Success is all about memory, mind as well as body.
Speaking of body, Smith is adapting to a new way of lifting weights under football performance coach Aaron Wellman at Memorial Stadium's state-of-the-art weight-lifting facility.
"We're hitting different muscles like I never had before," Smith says. "We're hitting my lower body more than anything. I am a big upper body guy. I have been working on my flexibility more than anything. The weight room is the best thing in this facility."
Smith tries to model himself after DK Metcalf, the standout receiver for the NFL's Seattle Seahawks known for his speed and strength.
"DK is a workhorse, and I feel I am a workhorse, as well," Smith says. "It's about staying after practice, catching like 150 balls a day. Staying in that drive. Continue to get better every day."
Improvement focuses on, "Staying on the route running. That's the main thing. Make sure I'm dropping my hips. Make sure I'm catching the ball and finishing up field. Make sure I'm catching everything with my hands. That's the main thing I'm focused on."
In other words, it's the little things.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The accolades are there for Jaquez Smith. Would you expect anything less from a four-star wide receiver prospect considered the eighth-highest rated player Indiana has landed since the scouting service era began in 2000?
But this 6-1, 200-pound true freshman understands his Indiana playing prospects start with the little things, the simple things, the things that lack glamour, but resonate with necessity.
Knowing what to do when the ball is snapped is priority No. 1.
"It's like they say around here, if don't know the playbook, you can't play," Smith says via recent Zoom opportunity. "That's the main thing I stay on. You have to lock in on that."
In case he forgets, wide receivers coach Grant Heard is there to remind him. So is his father, Marquis, once a Navy aviation mechanic/engineer.
"It's little things," the younger Smith says. "You have to make a schedule for yourself on when to get in the playbook. I stay in the playbook at least two hours a day. You have to do that to be ready at all times."
Readiness includes awareness of what defenses are doing, as well as everybody else on offense.
"The main thing is focusing on everybody's position, not just mine," Smith says. "Make sure I know where to line up, how to line up. It's just being ready."
It's a lot to learn, especially given Smith didn't arrive on campus until June. That puts him behind another four-star freshman receiver, Jordyn Williams, who enrolled for the second semester, and participated in spring practice.
"It's not difficult," Smith says, "but you have to learn it a lot faster. I came in during the summer time, so I don't have a lot of time to learn it."
Smith was a dominant receiver at Georgia's Westlake High School, ranking as the nation's No. 26 receiver by ESPN. Florida State wanted him. So did Auburn, Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, Pitt, Tennessee, and a bunch more Power 5 programs.
But Indiana got him, and he joins a strong group of receivers led by the reigning Big Ten Receiver of the Year, Ty Fryfogle.
They show him what it takes to thrive at the major college level.
"What I have learned is that we are all talented at the end of the day," Smith says, "but you have to know when to lock in and to stay in our playbook. Stay locked in.
"You have to know what the main thing is. Our main goal is getting to the national championship (game)."
At one time, any IU football player talking national championship would have generated laughter. Given the success of the last two seasons -- a 14-7 record, two bowl appearances and wins over perennial national powers Penn State, Michigan, and Wisconsin -- nobody laughs any more.
Smith has bought into that goal, along with what it takes to achieve it.
"You have to lock in. What they (veteran receiving teammates) are helping me with is just staying in the playbook. Lock in on the playbook."
If that sounds like a lot of repetition on the same playbook-and-lock-in theme, there's a good reason. Success is all about memory, mind as well as body.
Speaking of body, Smith is adapting to a new way of lifting weights under football performance coach Aaron Wellman at Memorial Stadium's state-of-the-art weight-lifting facility.
"We're hitting different muscles like I never had before," Smith says. "We're hitting my lower body more than anything. I am a big upper body guy. I have been working on my flexibility more than anything. The weight room is the best thing in this facility."
Smith tries to model himself after DK Metcalf, the standout receiver for the NFL's Seattle Seahawks known for his speed and strength.
"DK is a workhorse, and I feel I am a workhorse, as well," Smith says. "It's about staying after practice, catching like 150 balls a day. Staying in that drive. Continue to get better every day."
Improvement focuses on, "Staying on the route running. That's the main thing. Make sure I'm dropping my hips. Make sure I'm catching the ball and finishing up field. Make sure I'm catching everything with my hands. That's the main thing I'm focused on."
In other words, it's the little things.
Players Mentioned
FB: Omar Cooper Jr. Media Availability (10/21/25)
Tuesday, October 21
FB: Stephen Daley Media Availability (10/21/25)
Tuesday, October 21
FB: Carter Smith Media Availability (10/21/25)
Tuesday, October 21
FB: Curt Cignetti Media Availability (10/20/25)
Monday, October 20