There is no denying the speed and quickness of Auburndale senior Chauncy Smart. Smart, ranked as the state's fastest and US#3 returner in the 100m dash with a personal best of 10.30w, announced in November live on Flrunners.com that he was headed to Florida State University.
Smart, who is also member of the Bloodhounds football team and considered a three star recruit by Rivals, also had plans of walking on as a member of the Seminoles' program. However, since the speedster signed for track he is unable to compete for the football team. Wanting to still compete in football and track Smart says he asked for a release from FSU and opened up his recruitment.
The NCAA has a hierarchy of aid for multi-sports participants which basically states that if a student athlete participates in multiple sports, the financial aid or scholarship counts in conjunction with their recruiting sport. Football is at the top of the list. If you have an athlete competing in any sport plus football the aid has to come from football and count in their limits. This rule is to prevent football programs from working around their allotted scholarship limits and signing athletes to other sports.
Being late in the signing period, doesn't bother Smart. He knows that spots will become available as the school year moves on and that some teams are not filled up and are still looking for athletes.
"I'm looking for a school that will accept me doing football and running track, also the environment and area.Wherever I go, that school is getting a kid that likes to work hard athletically and in the classroom."
