OPC: Team Halton-Peel Varsity QB Smibert’s poised leadership (VIDEO)

The countdown begins to CanadaFootballChat.com Ontario Prospect Challenge on the May 1st weekend.  In the days leading up to OPC, CFC will preview the teams, coaches and players participating in the big event.

James Smibert defines himself as a poised quarterback.

“I am calm and relaxed,” explained the 6’3, 215 pound pivot.  “When it is game time, I am ready to go not afraid of anything.”

The chance to be a leader on the field is something that makes Smibert passionate about playing the position.

“I like being the man in charge of the offense, making plays and throwing touchdowns,” added the offensive standout.

Showing poise throughout his career with St. Aloysius Gonzaga Bulldogs of the Region of Peel Secondary School Athletic Association (ROPSSAA), Smibert’s highlight was when he got the starting quarterback positon with the team.

On the field, Smibert emulates two NFL quarterback idols – one past great and a current star.

“I look up to John Elway when I was younger I went to the library one day and I found The Denver Broncos 1997 Super Bowl Champion’s DVD,” recalled the Ontario pivot, who also admires Joe Montana, Dan Marino and Tom Brady.  “I checked it out and probably watched it 100’s of times and that when I fell in love with how John Elway played the game.”

“The quarterback who I model my game after is probably Andrew Luck he a great athlete he can beat you with his arm, his legs, and his mind.  I think we have similar style of play.”

On May 1^st, Smibert will take centre stage at the Ontario Prospect Challenge (OPC) as a member of Team Halton-Peel’s Varsity squad.

The Halton Peel pivot credits his father for introducing him to the event.

“My dad was just surfing online and he was on cfl.com and he saw an advertisement for the OPC, so he was curious and pressed the link he showed it to me,” reflected Smibert.  “It caught my attention and the rest is history.”

Already, he is enriched by all the different elements in the OPC process.

“It has been a good experience so far,” said Smibert. “I like competing against different players and working on getting better and improving my game.”

“The coaches are very knowledgeable I’ve picked up a few things from them.  Overall, a good experience”

Smibert has taken steps to get ready so that he can aid Team Halton-Peel to victory over Team West in the big game.

“Pressure only occurs if you’re not prepared,” commented the Team Halton-Peel standout.  “My job is to get ready for May 1st so I can perform at my best, so what I have been doing is training, working out, practicing and studying so when it is game time I can play to my best potential.”

“On game day, it’s all about going through my routine getting a good warm up this helps me get both mentally and physically prepared.”

While it is hard for Smibert to size up the competition, he is looking forward to competing with and against the best players from across the province.

“Since I have not played football outside of school, I don’t really know a lot of players,” added the quarterback.  “However, I’m really excited playing with my teammates.”
“We have some great athletes who are very good.”

Overall, Smibert has a couple of key objectives that he wants to accomplish at OPC.

“My personal goal for the Ontario Prospect Challenge was to see where I am at compared to my fellow peer group,” offered Smibert.  “Our team goal is to win the game.”

The OPC will be another special moment that the Team Halton-Peel pivot will experience.  Set to complete high school in 2015, Smibert is looking ahead to his future.  Among his ambitions are Sport Science, Kinesiology as well as becoming a professional baseball player.

However in the interim, there is unfinished business on the gridiron he want to see through and OPC is another step closer.

“I don’t have just one thing I want to achieve, right now for the moment just want to get as good as possible,” commented Smibert.

(twitter: http://twitter.com/vohra_ameeta)