Page 21 - 2020 Sollenberger

Once the pads came on, Desert Ridge’s Smith began to wreak havoc
By Les Willsey azpreps365.com
Desert Ridge’s Dante Smith’s motor is always running.
He is persistent. It’s a trait that has served him well and likely will continue to do so.
The Gilbert district allowed limited workouts beginning June 1. Four days a week Smith had those to contend with before school started and a job that intervened on those days as well.
Not terribly uncommon, he finished an 11-hour summer shift at his job before being able to return a reporter’s call during a weekend. Seems there is no rest for him at work or so called play, if football can be termed that.
Smith, a senior two-way lineman, is on the final leg of his high school career. If he and the rest of the state and country can navigate COVID-19 this fall, his landing spot for the next level portends to be a lofty one.
Desert Ridge coach Jeremy Hathcock refers positively to Smith as a “freak.” His ability was not on display until his freshman year in high school when his family first allowed him to play tackle football.
“He’s always been an athlete,” Hathcock said of the 6-2 1/2, 295-pound gem. “He’s run the 40 in 4.81, and I’ve never had a kid his size do that. There’s a lot of things we can do with him beyond playing up front. We could put him at running back, and I guarantee you he could make people miss. He’s a specimen.”
Versatile enough to play tackle or guard on the offensive line in high school, defense is where Smith could make a special mark at the next level.
He’s risen to being one of the state’s top linemen over the last two seasons with the real breakout coming last year. He contributed 57 tack- les, nine of them for loss and four sacks.
“I’m confident he could play defense at the highest level in college and be good enough to go to the highest level,” Hathcock said.
Smith is just happy that he’s been unleashed by his family to play football the past three years. His expectations were jolted some from his pre-tackle football days.
“Dante reminds me of Kolo,” Paffumi said. “Kolo was as good as there was in the state. He didn’t have the height. He was 6 feet, 6-1. He had that meanness, nasty in him. He ended up wrestling and becoming a state champion.”
“I was out doing seven-on-seven and playing wide receiver,” Smith said. “I guess that was just for fun. Then all of a sudden when practices started I was playing line.”
Hathcock said Smith is on track to being as good as anyone he’s had play for him up front.
A further illustration of Smith’s athletic prowess is how he’s per- formed taking up wrestling for the first time when he entered high school.
The sky’s the limit.
“I’ve always wanted to play,” Smith said. “It doesn’t matter to me much what position I’d play in college. I could be satisfied with either. Our coaches like me on defense the most I think. I’m just glad I’m play- ing.”
It wasn’t his choice to wrestle. It was an idea pushed hard by Hath- cock and defensive coordinator-wrestling coach Travis Jackson.
Desert Ridge defensive line coach Angelo Paffumi is just getting a chance to work closely with Smith this offseason.
“I don’t really like wrestling,” Smith said. “But coaches told me to do it because it would make me a better football player. That’s why I’m doing it.”
It’s been hard with COVID-19 limiting contact work, but Paffumi thinks intangibles work in Smith’s favor.
Smith qualified for state as a sophomore, wrestling heavyweight. He was eliminated in two matches. The 2020 season was much different, as Smith finished D-I state runner-up.
“The kid (Dante) has great feet, size, strength and speed,” Paffumi said. “Except for the couple inches he lacks in height, I hope colleges get over that. He has real long arms. I think for him that makes up for the difference between 6-2 and 6-4 or 6-5. What I’d like to see is a little more meanness. He plays with a lot of stamina going both ways for us. Better than most kids that play two ways. If he was just playing defense, it would be scary.
There is a tinge of excitement in his voice about wrestling his senior year if that opportunity presents itself.
The top defensive player Paffumi mentored while head coach at Skyline was Kolo Uasike.
Smith takes nothing for granted. He’s hoping the senior season will be a full one to give schools a decent chance to see him play another year older.
Uasike has played on the defensive line the past three seasons at UNLV.
“I’ll keep an open mind,” Smith said. “I know our coaches think big- ger offers will come. It’s too early now. After another season, I’ll know where things stand.”
Dante Smith, the one-man battering ram of Desert Ridge, is a perfect fit for his Mesa program. (Darin Sicurello photo/MaxPreps)
“Hopefully, I can take it (championship),” Smith said.
As of late June, Smith had offers from at least eight schools including North Dakota, South Dakota State Abilene Christian, New Mexico State, New Mexico and NAU and some others in the Big Sky.
Desert Ridge - 6A Fiesta Region
Head coach: Jeremy Hathcock.
Years as school’s head coach: 15th year, 116-56 record.
2019 record: 7-5.
Returning starters on offense, 2019 stats: Sr. QB Austin Kolb (6-5, 220), 2,980 passing yards, 22 TDs; Sr. RB-WR Avantae Barrett (5-11, 210), 425 rushing yards, 9 TDs; Jr. WR Keiyon Turner (6-1, 165), 564 receiving yards, 3 TDs; Sr. RB Austin Thomas (6-0, 170), 182 rushing yards, 2 TDs; Sr. OT-OG Dante Smith (6-2, 290); Sr. OC Nate Meza (5-11, 265); Jr. RB Jordan Wilson (5-9, 175), 413 rushing yards, 4 TDs; Sr. RB-DB Josiah Kidd (6-0, 171), 217 rushing yards, 3 TDs.
Returning starters on defense, 2019 stats: Sr. LB Avantae Barrett (5-11, 210), 110 tackles; Sr. SS Jared Nichols (6-2, 170), 51 tackles; Sr. DT Dante Smith (6-2, 290), 57 tackles; 4 sacks; Sr. FS Diamonte Bright (6-2, 170), 57 tackles; Sr. LB Kendall Falaniko (5-11, 215), 120 tackles.
Also keep an eye on: So. QB Robert White (6-0, 185); Sr. SB-WR Jordan Forbes (6-0, 185); Jr. DB KJ Miniefield (5-9, 160).
Strengths of offense: Big up front. Biggest we’ve ever been. May be our most complete offense. Length at receiver and lots of speed.
Strengths of defense: Solid across the board. Good depth.
Team’s biggest question mark(s): Lot of two-way players as usual. Staying healthy, especially in COVID-19 days.
2020 expectations: Potentially as good a team as we’ve had, but staying healthy at the right times with tough schedule is critical. Playoffs and beyond.
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