Smith to play football for VMI Keydets
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With numerous achievements in the classroom and on the football field, Sequatchie County High School senior Harrison Smith made official his decision to attend Virginia Military Institute (VMI). Smith signed with VMI during a ceremony at the SCHS gym on May 1, with family, friends, teammates and hundreds of other classmates present.
The son of Nathan and Stephanie Smith explained, “VMI was an awesome opportunity for me to play Division I football, receive a great education, and prepare me for a military career.”
Smith plans to commission into the Air Force after VMI, become a special tactics officer, and work in the Air Force Special Operations Command.
At SCHS, Smith earned Valedictorian for the Class of 2026. He received many other honors, earning the 2025 Tennessee School Board Association Achievement award for Southeast Tennessee, the VFW Voice of Democracy essay contest award twice, and more. He was involved in several student organizations and community support activities.
On the playing field, Smith was a four-year football team member and played basketball four years. In football, he was a two-time all-state honoree and was twice named Chattanooga Area Best of Preps. Smith earned the Scholar-Athlete Award from the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame’s East Tennessee Chapter.
In 2025, Smith had 17 tackles for loss on the defensive line plus 10 additional sacks. He had 72 total tackles.
Smith said he had previously been interested in Carson-Newman in East Tennessee, before the head coach took the same position at VMI and offered Smith an opportunity to come there.
At VMI, Smith will remain teammates with SCHS senior Luke Finch, who also played football and basketball for the Indians and will play football.
“I was already leaning heavily towards a future at VMI, and Luke’s decision to go there just made it an easier decision,” Smith said. “I get to keep playing football with one of my brothers from here.”
Playing football since sixth grade, Smith added, support from close friends, family, and coaches “remained unwavering throughout the ups and downs of the past four years of football. Through the wins, losses, and journey of college recruiting, they always believed in me.”
