Darius Smith came to Legacy for a chance to step in the spotlight. Maria Turner came to Legacy to have the opportunity to play volleyball for at that point, a 5A school. Although their sports are different, there is one similarity. They will both be continuing their athletic careers in college.
Smith became the signal caller for Legacy High School after leaving Mansfield for a new opportunity.
“I thought I was going to end up at Mansfield,” Smith said. “My mom moved into the Legacy school district. I was happy to be at a new school and experience something different.”
Smith grew as a quarterback as Legacy grew as a program. Starting as a JV program, Smith lead the Broncos to their first wins in school history, coming out on top over Seguin and Granbury in the 2008 season. Now he will be moving to the Deep South, to put on the purple of Alcorn State in Lorman, Mississippi.
“They actually called me a couple days before signing day and they wanted me to visit, Smith said. “I went down on a weekend. I liked the campus. It was a real nice environment.”
Smith was happy to visit Lorman, as he always had visions of continuing his football career after high school. All he needed was the open spot in a roster and the phone call he received. Smith says he planned on it but I just never knew where.”
Alcorn State went 2-9 in the 2008 season and hopes that Smith will help to turn the program around at the quarterback position, along with new coaches, as seven out of nine were dismissed at the end of the season.
Turner is heading somewhere much colder than Mississippi, Evanston Illinois, although the color she will sport on the hard wood will be the same, purple.
I was really excited [to sign],” Turner said. “Everything I worked for finally happened.
Northwestern University, a prodigious academic school just outside of Chicago, competes in the Big Ten, along with the likes of national champion Penn State. Turner’ college experience will pit her against the best volleyball players the nation has to offer.
“It’s exciting because not many people get to that,” Turner said. “[The competition] kind of scary but not many people get to compete at such a high level which is fun because I’m a very competitive person.”