A&M pledge Tyanthony Smith hopes to change perceptions of Jasper

Commitment videos are now as much of the college football recruiting process as official visits.

Talented prospects typically post videos on social media to announce the college program they’ve chosen. Those announcements are usually accompanied by promises of production.

Tyanthony Smith‍ is a little different.

The four-star linebacker released a video when he committed to Texas A&M, but his message was about changing perceptions rather than promising production.

Smith’s goal is to make a name for himself and clear the name of his hometown. He indicated as much in a tweeted video on July 1.

“The Jasper community … we’ve been through ups and downs,” Smith said. “Many people say bad things about us, you know, but we know who we are. We’ve been with each other since day one, and I couldn’t wish for a better community or a better team. We are Jasper.”

Jasper — a town of about 7,000 deep in the East Texas piney woods approximately 40 miles from the Louisiana state line — once was primarily known for its strong high school athletics programs, especially track & field.

Jasper High School’s track & field program was among the state’s elite. It produced hurdler Bryan Bronson, who competed in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and placed third at the 1997 World Championships in Athens.

Then came June 7, 1998.

On that night, James Byrd — an African American vacuum salesman — was accosted by three white men, chained to the back of a Ford pickup truck, and dragged to his death.

Two white supremacists were eventually convicted and executed for Byrd’s murder. A third was sentenced to life imprisonment.

The brutality of the heinous crime shocked the world.

“Jasper” became synonymous with evil.

Smith wasn’t born when Mr. Byrd was killed 25 years ago. But he’s compelled to use his platform as a touted prospect and eventual college football player to defend his hometown.

“All my life, I’ve heard bad things about Jasper,” Smith said in a recent telephone conversation. “But there are great, genuine people in Jasper that will build you up and help you. It’s a different picture when you’re in Jasper. There are great people who love each other.

“My video was a way of showing kids on Twitter you can be from Jasper and be successful. Put yourself out there, grind and show them that you’re different.”

It certainly seems different that a teenager would feel the need to advocate for his hometown. That responsibility typically falls on mayors, council members and the Chamber of Commerce.

Smith is repeating what he’s learned from football coach Kendrick Crumedy, who also grew up in Jasper.

Crumedy — who had been the offensive coordinator at Manvel High School — returned to Jasper last year with the message that your hometown’s history doesn’t have to affect your future.

“Jasper was known for being a ‘sundown town,’” Crumedy said. “If you’re African-American, don’t be out at night time. Growing up, you’d hear that all the time.

“It was something that was prevalent, and the stigma lingers. I even have coaching buddies now that say, ‘Are you sure you want to be in that town?’

Kendrick Crumedy, Jasper HS

Proud to be from Jasper, both Crumedy and Smith are taking it upon themselves to change the narrative surrounding their hometown.

“Part of our job is to make kids proud to be from Jasper. Jasper is a unique place, and our kids embraced that uniqueness. Our kids might get up in the morning to feed horses or go fishing or throw hay bales. They’re hard-nosed kids that love each other.

“We don’t even call it Jasper, Texas. We call it Jasper, America."

Jasper is not perfect. No Utopian society exists.

But Crumedy said racial issues have eased since the Byrd tragedy. Crumedy has taken a role in bringing the community together.

“For a while, white kids weren’t even playing football in Jasper,” he said. “The black kids played football. The white kids played baseball. I said absolutely not. If you want to play here, you can play.

“I want to change the image people have of my community. It’s not just a racist-ass country town in East Texas.”

Perhaps nobody has embraced Crumedy’s message more than Smith. When a top-flight athlete who also is an ‘A' student with an engaging personality buys in, others tend to follow.

“He's a genuine kid,” Crumedy said. “He’s everything you want a young man to be. He’s what you want them to grow into. He’s polite, respectful, a leader, an exceptionally hard worker. He’s what you want a young man to become.”

Of course, Aggies also hope Smith becomes a dominant linebacker.

For the past decade, that has been a largely mediocre position for A&M. There have been some good players come and go, but consistency has been subpar.

Last season, Texas A&M’s run defense was ranked 123rd in the nation. Erratic linebacker play was a contributing factor in that futility.

Smith can’t change that in 2023. It would be unfair to expect him to make a significant difference as a true freshman in 2024.

Still, A&M should be excited to add Smith to an impressive group of linebacker commitments, which currently also includes four-star Jordan Lockhart‍ of Bellflower, California, and rising three-star Tristan Jernigan‍ of Tupelo, Mississippi.

“I was impressed the first time I saw him,” Crumedy said. “He was hurt, but even with a slight limp, he had a knack for running to the ball. He has closing speed that’s unique for a linebacker.

“He understands what he’s doing … where his eyes should go. He’s patient with feet. He doesn’t take false or negative steps. I’m excited to watch him.”

Smith, who intends to major in business, is excited to someday play for A&M. He isn’t deterred at all by A&M’s linebacker issues of late.

“I trust what they do with their defense,” Smith said. “I feel like I can go there and change it around.”

That goes for linebacker play at A&M and perceptions of his hometown.