After playing at Florida on NCAA football video games as a kid, Trey Smith experienced the real thing on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/F6eb4pDPFg
— David Cobb (@DavidWCobb) September 19, 2017
KNOXVILLE - Trey Smith informally issued a public service announcement in April as he neared the conclusion of his first semester as a University of Tennessee student.
He had noticed a trend associated with his presence and wanted to put any concerns to rest.
"A lot of time people are scared," the 6-foot-6, 320-pound offensive lineman said at the time. "I will not eat you; I will not harm you; I just want to say hi."
The physically imposing Smith probably did not help his case a few weeks ago, when he carried a sledgehammer to class with him after Tennessee's 42-41 double-overtime win over Georgia Tech in the season opener.
Trey Smith (73) prepares to block. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017. 
Tennessee offensive lineman Trey Smith (73) celebrates running back John Kelly's 2-yard touchdown run in the second overtime of the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game against Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday, Sept. 4, in Atlanta, Ga.But the spectacle of a larger-than-life character toting such an item around campus came with good reason. Of Tennessee's offensive linemen, it was Smith - the freshman playing in his first college football game - who earned the sledgehammer for the week with his performance in the game.
"That's something that's been a tradition here for a very long period of time," Tennessee coach Butch Jones said. "It's awarded to the offensive lineman that meets certain criteria up front on the offensive front. A lot of it is with knockdowns. I know Trey was very proud to win that."
While the sledgehammer may be a program tradition, there appears to be no precedent for carrying it to class. Smith did so after talking with senior safety Evan Berry, who advised Smith that doing so would create a fond memory. Smith took the suggestion and chose to tote it with him "to start that legend."
Mission accomplished, even if it prompted a few double-takes.
"I wanted to carry it in a nonthreatening way," Smith said. "But I started really evaluating this, and I was like, well I do sort of have a weapon."
Smith has proven to be a weapon in his own right on the football field through Tennessee's first three games. Sandwiched at right guard between two seniors - Jashon Robertson at center and Brett Kendrick at right tackle - Smith has demonstrated why he was the No. 1 prospect in the state's 2017 recruiting class.
Offensive line coach Walt Wells said Smith is still learning to handle everything required of him on a given play. But he seems to have little trouble handling his first job on running plays, which is to bulldoze his assigned defender.
"I think he's progressing," Wells said Tuesday. "He's playing well. Trey is a physical, physical player. And sometimes, it sounds bad to say, but he get so locked in to one thing when he's got to do two things in that job."
Smith said he thinks he is better at run blocking right now than pass protection.
"I enjoy the physicality of it and just really getting in somebody's chest and running them over," he said. "That's the fun part about football for me."
Wells said Smith seems to truly enjoy football and loves Tennessee, adding that he has injected some energy into a veteran offensive line.
"He just comes out to work every day, he has fun with it," Wells said. "Sure, he's a normal person who is going to have his down days like anybody does, but he really likes to play the game."
Fun is a word that comes up a lot in discussions about Smith. And for the 18-year-old, "that legend" is just getting starting.
"I really want to leave my mark on Tennessee," Smith said. "I want to have some fun while I'm here."
Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com.