Football: Granada Hills intends to turn loose Smith

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Now that junior running back Jacob Smith of Granada Hills has been cleared by the City Section to play on Friday against Sun Valley Poly, Coach Billy Parra will not waste any time in turning him loose even though he had been practicing with the junior varsity while waiting see if he would be granted a hardship waiver.

‘We’re going to utilize him as much as we can,’ Parra said. ‘He has a burst of speed that I haven’t seen in a while.’

Smith was a key contributor for Sherman Oaks Notre Dame as a sophomore, then transferred to Canyon Country Canyon last semester before arriving at Granada Hills this fall.

For him to gain immediate eligibility means that Crenshaw’s De’Anthony Thomas might have some competition next spring in track and field, because Smith is also a top 100-meter runner.

But let’s see what he can do in football.

‘He’s going to make a huge impact,’ Parra said.

-- Eric Sondheimer