Smith to play football at Montana Western

SANDPOINT — One question was answered recently as Sandpoint football player A.J. Smith signed to play in college at the University of Montana Western, in Dillon, jumping from one Bulldog football team to another.

The next question to be answered is which side of the ball he’ll play on at the NAIA Frontier Conference football team. The coaches recruited him as a defensive end/linebacker, but are also considering moving him to tight end, where they have a more pressing need.

Either way, the 6-foot-2, 210 pound former All-State defensive end is just happy to continue playing the game he loves at the next level. He spent four days on a recruiting visit to the campus recently, and liked what he saw.

“The town’s a lot like Sandpoint, with lots of hunting and fishing,” said Smith, who plans to study biology. “I told them I’ll play anything, I just like playing football. I want to play as far as I could for as long as I could.”

Sandpoint head coach Mike Mitchell believes Smith can excel on either side of the ball, where he started both ways last season on the state runner up Bulldogs, possessing the size and raw tools to make an impact at the next level.

“He will be an outstanding player for Montana Western,” said Mitchell. “Some guys talk it and others do it. A.J. does it.”

Smith also played basketball for the Bulldogs and is currently playing on the club lacrosse team in Sandpoint. Montana Western head coach Rich Ferris said he kind of stole Smith away from a couple other local schools, and the Bulldogs were able to offer him enough financial help to seal the deal.

“I think he’s going to be a dang good football player,” said Ferris. “It looks like he’ll compete at tight end. He has the physical tools, a lot depends on his drive and desire to get better.”