Ricky Smalling made a lasting impression in his first varsity appearance for Brother Rice.
As a freshman two years ago, Smalling hauled in a 45-yard touchdown catch in Brother Rice’s 24-21 loss to Fenwick in a Chicago Catholic League playoff game. Brother Rice coach Brian Badke said Smalling’s talent was evident early in his career, but he decided not to rush his promotion to varsity. An injury to another player forced his hand.
“I contemplated letting Ricky play on varsity earlier because I knew he could play athletically, but that is a huge jump,” Badke said. “I talked to his parents, and we were on the same page and decided to let him enjoy his freshman year and go from there. After he had a great freshman year, we brought him up for the playoffs and for our practices.
“As a freshman, he came in to play in our playoff game against Fenwick and scored a touchdown. We knew he was going to be a special player then. He’s really developed and works really hard.”
Now a junior, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Smalling is living up to his potential. He caught nine passes for 137 yards and three touchdowns against Bloomfield Hills (Mich.) Brother Rice in Week 1. In Friday’s 49-21 win at Crete-Monee, Smalling added seven receptions for 163 yards and two touchdowns.
“It has been a very good way to start the season,” Smalling said. “I just have to keep working hard and just hope good things happen. I’m excited. I just hope everything gets better throughout the season, and hopefully I can open some more eyes.
“I’m just waiting for more offers to come in. I’m looking forward to a great season with my teammates.”
Smalling said he patterns his game after Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant and Mississippi junior Laquon Treadwell, a close friend who graduated from Crete-Monee.
“I look up to Laquon Treadwell,” Smalling said. “He’s one of my older mentors. He’s big, can move and runs routes very well. He tells me to keep working hard and to stay humble.”
Smalling has an interesting, but so far small list of offers from Virginia, Wisconsin and Illinois. He caught about 60 passes for 850 yards and nine touchdowns last season, according to Badke.
“Ricky had a great opener,” Badke said. “He’s worked extremely hard. He has great hands and is extremely athletic. He’s a really good blocker. He made a play against Brother Rice Michigan, where he ran 35 or 40 yards to block on a touchdown run. That tells you what type of player he is. He’s a game-breaker.
“Once he gets his grades in line, he can play at any level. I’m sure some of these SEC schools will start to take a look at him. He’s that good. He’s improving in the classroom. That’s the number-one goal.”
Smalling, who also plays safety, forms a potent duo with senior receiver Julian Blain. Badke said Blain is receiving some interest from Mid-American Conference schools.
“Julian is a playmaker,” he said. “He’s fast and physical and can block. He’s a complete weapon, a mismatch for teams that put a linebacker on him. We move him and Ricky around, work a lot on the screen game with both of those guys. We want to make sure you have to defend the whole width of the field, all 53 yards.”
Embrey making news: Montini senior middle linebacker/fullback John Embrey already has earned the admiration of one important person: His coach, Chris Andriano, who was very clear in his evaluation of Embrey.
“John Embrey is going to be one of the state’s best linebackers,” Andriano said .
Embrey has been solid on both sides of the ball during Montini’s challenging first two games against Maine South and East St. Louis. The 5-11, 220-pounder has offers from Northwest Missouri State and Central Missouri. He’s already closing in on 25 tackles.
“I’m looking to get my scores up for Army and Air Force,” Embrey said. “That might be the route I’m taking in the future.”
Bob Narang is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
