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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

MONTGOMERY – Jared Smith was already in elite air at Thompson High School, but he wrote his name into the history books with one of the biggest individual awards in the state.

Thompson defensive end Jared Smith won the 2024 Class 7A Lineman of the Year award from the Alabama Sports Writers Association at its annual Mr. Football banquet on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at the Renaissance Hotel in Montgomery.

Smith is the first Warrior to win the Class 7A Lineman of the Year since current Clemson star Peter Woods secured the award in 2022. Before that, his now-Clemson teammate Jeremiah Alexander secured the award in 2020 and 2021, making Smith the third different player to earn the award and the school’s fourth winner in five years.

Smith had a spectacular senior season, securing 87 tackles, a county-high 8.5 sacks and five tackles for loss along with 23 quarterback hurries, four pass breakups and an interception in his lone season at Thompson.

He played a key role on the Warriors pass rush as the defense led the way for Thompson’s fifth state championship in the last six years.

Smith earned MaxPreps All-American Second Team honors for the first time in his career while also receiving spots on the Class 7A All-State First Team and All-County First Team.

He also represented the Warriors at the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic and at the 2025 Under Armour All-American Game.

Smith had to beat out Opelika’s Mailk Autry and Enterprise’s Zion Grady to secure the award.

Smith was one of three Warriors to receive individual finalist honors as Anquon Fegans and Trent Seaborn each were nominated for Class 7A Back of the Year.

Now, Smith will take his individual honors on to Auburn University to play football for the Tigers. He graduated early in December after committing to coach Hugh Freeze’s team in August and signing on early signing day in December.

Smith was not present at the banquet, and Thompson athletic director Vincent Pitts accepted the award in his absence.