If you check out the KHSAA's record book for Individual Records, Derek Smith shows the following:

 

- Tied for #13 in career TD receptions at 36 (1995-1998).

 

- #47 in career receiving yards at 2304 (1995-1998).

 

- Tied for #2 in single game TD receptions at 5 (Highlands vs. Scott; 09-25-98).

 

- #6 in single game receiving yards at 304 (Highlands vs. Scott; 09-25-98).

Not to knock Cov Cath's current QB but I'd say Derek Smith's numbers were certainly helped out a good bit by his QB being as good as he was. That entire Highlands offense was exceptionally good during Smith's career at the school.

As someone with no allegiance to either program....

 

Give me Mayer every day and twice on Sunday over Smith.

 

Smith was a very, very good HS Tight End and a strong collegiate player.

 

Mayer has a chance to be generational type HS talent from Kentucky and a potential NFL player.

Not to knock Cov Cath's current QB but I'd say Derek Smith's numbers were certainly helped out a good bit by his QB being as good as he was. That entire Highlands offense was exceptionally good during Smith's career at the school.

 

This point can't be stated enough....that makes a HUGE difference. AJ and Jacobs aren't Jared, not on their best day.

Not to knock Cov Cath's current QB but I'd say Derek Smith's numbers were certainly helped out a good bit by his QB being as good as he was. That entire Highlands offense was exceptionally good during Smith's career at the school.

 

I don't know that I could equate Cov Cath's offense during Mayer's years to Highlands' offense during Smith's years, but Cov Cath's is still very solid. Mayer had a D1 quarterback passing to him in his sophomore year in his brother AJ, while Smith had Lorenzen passing to him.

 

Another interesting point is the fact that both Mayer and Smith had several other major offensive weapons who they were playing with. Some people take that from the approach of "look at these other players they had to compete with for the ball", but I would look at it almost as much of a benefit in that all of the defenses had to cover ALL of those offensive players, therefore having less ability to double-cover any single player. This year things have been a little different in that regard for Mayer. But regardless:

 

Derek Smith:

Jared Lorenzen (UK) - 6821 career passing yards, 89 career TD Passes

Brett Hamblen (UK) - 3071 career yards receiving, 140 career receptions, 47 career TD receptions

Randy Stegman (Miami, OH) - 2420 career yards receiving, 130 career receptions

Justin Frisk (Thomas More) - 2500 career yards rushing, 74 career TDs

 

Michael Mayer:

AJ Mayer (Miami, OH) - 7602 career passing yards, 77 career TD passes

Jack Coldiron (Miami, OH) - 1766 career yards receiving, 71 career receptions, 20 career TD receptions

Casey McGinness - 5121 career yards rushing, 74 career rushing TDs, 85 career TDs

Smith was recruited to play both football and basketball for UK. Decided to not play basketball to focus on football and went on to be named All SEC at TE. Pretty tough to top that. see article below.

 

Derek Smith To Concentrate On Football - University of Kentucky

 

Only time will tell, but I have a feeling Mayer will have a much more successful college career at ND as well as an NFL career. We will only be able to compare them truly in about 5 years.

Edited November 6, 20196 yr by Gridiron Colonel Fan
Punctuation

I haven't seen them all enough to compare, but it would be interesting to see Smith and Jacobs in the current era where the kids are getting more specialized training doing speed and agility and all the extras from a young age.

As someone with no allegiance to either program....

 

Give me Mayer every day and twice on Sunday over Smith.

 

Smith was a very, very good HS Tight End and a strong collegiate player.

 

Mayer has a chance to be generational type HS talent from Kentucky and a potential NFL player.

 

I would say what you are saying about Mayer would have been the same things said about Smith back then and being a potential NFL player coming out of high school.

This is a legit comparison, but there are a few things missing in this thread needed for perspective. First, from a basketball perspective, on any other team, mayer would have been a focal point as a Soph like Smith. Mayer played along side several basketball scoring legends in VonHandorf and CJ Frederick (not to mention his big brother and other college players). Mayer was asked to be a role player, so comparing him to Smith is not apples to apples. Note, he was a big time AAU basketball player until he became a top football recruit. He could've been a focal point on any other program than this run of CCH basketball teams.

Second, Mayer is currently THE All American TE, period. I don't know if Smith or others have achieved this, but I don't think so. Mayer has competed (in combine format) vs. the best and proved it. Not to mention, an incredible performance vs. LaSalle this year. I also think his defensive dominance and overall athletic dominance puts him in a class by himself. No disrespect to others, it is a best of best conversation.

Today, this argument seems to me to put Mayer in an elite tier just above Smith and Jacobs.

I would say what you are saying about Mayer would have been the same things said about Smith back then and being a potential NFL player coming out of high school.

 

They were.

This is a legit comparison, but there are a few things missing in this thread needed for perspective. First, from a basketball perspective, on any other team, mayer would have been a focal point as a Soph like Smith. Mayer played along side several basketball scoring legends in VonHandorf and CJ Frederick (not to mention his big brother and other college players). Mayer was asked to be a role player, so comparing him to Smith is not apples to apples. Note, he was a big time AAU basketball player until he became a top football recruit. He could've been a focal point on any other program than this run of CCH basketball teams.

Second, Mayer is currently THE All American TE, period. I don't know if Smith or others have achieved this, but I don't think so. Mayer has competed (in combine format) vs. the best and proved it. Not to mention, an incredible performance vs. LaSalle this year. I also think his defensive dominance and overall athletic dominance puts him in a class by himself. No disrespect to others, it is a best of best conversation.

Today, this argument seems to me to put Mayer in an elite tier just above Smith and Jacobs.

 

Smith was the dude on the varsity basketball team as a freshman. Basketball I don’t think is close.

Wow. Would I rather have legendary or awesome? Incredible or amazing? Unstoppable or undeniable?

 

Do I have to choose between apple pie and pumpkin pie, too?

 

OK, to get to the point: I saw both play. And if the discussion is strictly about their insane talents as tight ends, I've got to go with Derek Smith. We're really splitting hairs here, folks, but Smith not only looked like a college player in HS, he played like one. Mayer is unreal, and appears to have a long career ahead of him. He may wind up going further than Smith (who knows?). But just comparing what I've seen of both to date, I would pick Smith as the better of the two.

 

In fact, Smith is the best pass-catching TE I've ever seen in KY HS football, although I will confess that - at age 57 - I can't remember much of anyone prior to the early 1970s...

 

CM

The last I saw, Michael Mayer was listed at #52 in the country.

 

#37 on the new release of Rivals. Very impressive.

I would say they are pretty equal offensively. I would clearly give the defensive advantage to Mayer.

I would say they are pretty equal offensively. I would clearly give the defensive advantage to Mayer.

 

I agree on Mayer having the edge on D. But I think Smith has the edge on O. He had 300+ yards receiving in one game.