Blake Smith gambled with a walk-on opportunity to come to Mississippi State after his junior college career was complete.
The Fort Payne, Alabama native turned down scholarship offers from home state schools Troy, UAB and Samford in order to pursue his dream of pitching in the Southeastern Conference.
“It was a big chance taking a walk-on spot,” Smith said. “I knew there was a chance that I wouldn’t even make the team. I knew that coming in but I was willing to take that chance to play in the SEC. It worked out though.”
Smith went unnoticed by four-year programs when he graduated from high school and took Shelton State Community College up on its offer.