A standout football player has lost an opportunity to play for Oregon State’s football program. Brandon Smith, a former running back at Santa Barbara City College, had committed to the Beavers after an official visit. The former junior college prospect will not be joining the Beavers program after he was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
Smith is a Chicago native. He had a stellar showing as a junior college athele. He ran for 1,231 yards and 16 touchdowns in his most recent season with the Vaqueros of Santa Barbara City College. That school competes in the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA). It was reported that the gifted running back took an official visit to Corvallis, OR in late May and announced that Oregon State had offered him a scholarship on May 25.
Oregon State told the media that Smith never signed with the team and will not be a part of the program. Brandon Smith was one of four men arrested on June 7 and charged with attempted murder. They were also charged with robbery and conspiracy in the wake of an incident near a community pool on June 2. A 20-year-old man was seriously injured.
Brandon got a huge break. He did not have any major scholarship offers out of high school. Due to his talents on the field, he gained attention from Hawaii, Fresno State, Nevada and Oregon State after his impressive JUCO campaign.
It is unfortunate that Smith was slated to join the famed running back room at Oregon State. This spot is headlined by the reigning Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, Damien Martinez. It was thought that the excitement would be intense and exciting with Martinez holding down the starting job. Brandon Smith would have had to make a big showing to take the position of returning contributors Deshaun Fenwick, Isaiah Newell, and Jam Griffin. That seems to all be gone now.
