Countdown to Kickoff: No. 15

DeAndre Smelter

The countdown to kickoff is officially on as Georgia Tech‘s season-opening matchup at Colorado on Aug. 29 is less than 100 days away.

Until then JOL will be counting it down with one Jackets’ player daily that wore the corresponding number of days remaining until toe meets leather in Boulder.

With it now 15 days until kickoff in Boulder, today’s focus is on No. 15 DeAndre Smelter, who began his athletic career at Georgia Tech on the diamond but finished it as a standout wide receiver on the gridiron.

Smelter first made a name for himself with a stellar prep career as a three-sport athlete at Tattnall Square Academy (Ga.) in Macon. He had his most success on the baseball field as he was named All-Region, All-State and as a Louisville Slugger All-American, which earned him a baseball scholarship offer from former Georgia Tech head coach Danny Hall, which he accepted over opportunities from several other schools and over an opportunity to head to the Minors after being drafted in the 14th-round of the MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins.

Smelter played from 2011-2013 for Georgia Tech’s baseball program, seeing action as an outfielder and a pitcher. He started 15 games as a freshman in the outfield and one as a pitcher before missing a good amount of time as a sophomore in 2012 with an injury despite being used as a pinch-runner along with four outings on the mound. He then played 14 games as a junior and finished his baseball career with two scoreless relief appearances in 2014.

Smelter decided to give football a try in 2013, after having success on the in that sport in high school before focusing on baseball in college. He immediately carved out a role for himself during the 2013 season for former Jackets’ head coach Paul Johnson, playing in 13 games and starting eight of them as he finished that season with 21 catches for 345 yards and a team-high four touchdown receptions.

Smelter had another strong season in 2014 as a senior before suffering a knee injury that ended his college football career in the Jackets’ win over Georgia. In 12 games (all starts), he racked up 35 catches for a team-high 715 yards and seven touchdowns as well as a rushing touchdown (a 75-yard TD run against UNC). He was named Second-Team All-ACC by the coaches and Phil Steele and Third-Team All-ACC by the ACSMA.

After finishing his time on The Flats, Smelter was drafted in the fourth round (132nd overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. He spent the 2015-2017 seasons with the 49ers before getting a chance with the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars prior to 2018 but not making the final cuts.

Smelter is now back at his alma mater Georgia Tech after joining the coaching staff as a graduate assistant prior to the 2023 season. He was promoted to quality control coach for wide receivers going into 2024 and is in the same role as the team prepares for the 2015 season.