FERRIDAY, La. – Defensive players rarely get any credit. A flashy interception or a punishing sack may make a highlight reel, but a solid, hard-hitting linebacker hardly ever makes the headlines.

Ferriday star linebacker Stan Smith wouldn’t have it any other way.

&uot;I’d rather hit somebody hard than score a touchdown any day,&uot; Smith, who also plays tight end, said. &uot;There’s nothing better than getting a good hit on somebody. I love contact.&uot;

If that attitude doesn’t have college scouts salivating, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound senior’s performance on the field surely will.

Smith is the field general of the undefeated Trojans’ incredibly stingy defense. Five of Ferriday’s eight wins were shut-outs, and no team has scored more than 20 points on the Trojans this year.

Ferriday’s defensive success is the result of three factors, Smith said, &uot;Communication, a lot of talent and good coaching.&uot;

His own success he described simply as the result of &uot;hard work.&uot;

With recruiters from schools like LSU, Southern Miss, Texas A&M,&160;Tulane, Mississippi State, Arkansas and Louisiana Tech showing significant interest, it seems Smith’s hard work has paid off.

&uot;I’ve been to a few campuses, but I want to take in the whole recruiting process before I make a decision,&uot; Smith said. &uot;I’ll wait and see.&uot;

LSU has a recruiting edge in Tigers sophomore linebacker Jeremy Lawrence, a Ferriday native and Smith’s cousin.

In fact, Lawrence and his success is what first attracted Smith to football. &uot;I saw my cousin and them play and I wanted to be like them,&uot; Smith said.

But now he needs no outside motivation to suit up, he added.

&uot;I love it. I love the game,&uot; he said. There’s nothing I’d rather do than play football.&uot;

And barring injury, he’ll continue to do just that. Smith’s goals are to earn a football scholarship, earn All-American honors in college and eventually graduate to the professional ranks. &uot;I think it’s a possibility,&uot; he said. &uot;If I continue to work hard.&uot;