Gridiron Feature: Jaden Smith

11/14/2026 9:33:00 AM

By Mark Brunner

Given what UTEP football senior wide receiver Jaden Smith has endured since arriving in the Sun City in 2024, no one could blame him if he had chosen to have a bad attitude or to simply hang up his cleats completely.

For those unfamiliar with Smith's plight, it began not even halfway through his 2024 campaign, when he sustained a season-ending knee injury in practice. At the time he went down, he had hauled in 21 passes and looked every bit the role of a true No. 1 wideout.

Rather than hang his head, Smith got to work immediately, intent on coming back stronger than ever. Then, during an offseason OTA in the summer, his knee betrayed him again, and just like that, before it even began, the 2025 season was lost.

At that point, most in Smith's situation probably would have just quit. There's nothing average about Smith, however.

"I mean, I thought after the second time, he was probably just going to hang it up," UTEP head coach Scotty Walden said. "And not because he's a quitter or nothing like that. It's because any normal human would, but he's not normal."

Even Smith, though, isn't sure where he got the strength to persevere.

"I honestly can't even tell you (where he got strength). I'm not sure," Smith said. "I just told myself to keep showing up every day. As long as you put in the work, it'll play out how it's supposed to play out. At some point, you just got to put it in God's hands."

As strong as he is, Smith knows he couldn't get back to being cleared to play again without the support of others.

"Definitely my family, my girlfriend and even (Miner Back) Kam Thomas," Smith said. "We both had to do it (rehab) last year. We were just always in there like every single day, pretty much two, three times a day. We were competing with each other, with weight or with reps or whatever it might be. I feel like we both really played a big part in each other's comeback."

Smith has had the opportunity to pay that type of support forward. Now healthy and thriving on the field, he relishes the chance to back his teammates in their journeys to get healthy and ultimately back onto the field.

"I just try to be there for them immensely. I know what it's like having to wake up every day and do something you don't necessarily want to do (the rehab), but you have to do it. It's not easy," Smith said. "Obviously, nobody wants to do it, but just having been there myself, I know how far somebody in your corner can go. So, I try to be that person for a lot of people."

His play on the field has inspired his teammates and coaches, and for good reason. He paces the team in receptions (36) and receiving yards (303). Smith has caught a touchdown pass, completed a pass and averaged 7.0 yards a rush in six carries.

"I have never seen in my career a young man go through what he's been through and bounce back like he has," Walden said. "I've seen some positive examples and some impressive ones, but none more impressive than Jaden. For him to not only just come back and play, but to be a team captain is special."

His journey has changed Smith's perspective.

"Before, I kind of felt like it was just always a given that football would be there for me, but having to experience life without it and learn myself outside of this field, you start to appreciate the field even more. So, I feel like that's really helped me along in life," Smith said. "It's a blessing every time I get to go out there and play on Saturdays, especially not being able to play the past two years. I just try to live in a moment. I take every day for what it's worth, and I just try to appreciate everything as it comes."

There's been plenty of takeaways for him in 2026, but it boils down to being healthy and competing alongside his brothers.

"Just being able to play the game I love again (is amazing)," Smith said. "The season obviously hasn't gone how we wanted it to go. I'll take wins over personal stats any day, every day, but like I said before, it's a blessing to come out here and play every Saturday. I don't take it for granted."

As far as how he ended up in El Paso, it started at the FCS level when Smith was starring for EKU. Incidentally, one of the teams he played best against was Austin Peay, who was under the direction of Walden.

"I have nightmares of No. 3 tearing us up, man," Walden said. "We couldn't guard him with two guys (on some plays). He ate our lunch. When he got in the portal, and I got this job, I was like, we've got to get him. It was a priority, and I'm so thankful that he's here."

Smith, who enjoyed competing against Walden, is thrilled to have joined him in the Sun City.

"I used to play against Coach Walden when he was at Austin Peay, and I was at EKU. Those games were always some of the most fun games that I played in," Smith said. "When I entered the portal, he had just gotten the job here and was one of the first people to hit me up. I kind of felt it was destiny to come to UTEP."

El Paso embraced Smith, and he embraced the city.

"Just being here, I fell in love with the city," Smith said. "I found my girlfriend, her family, and lifelong friends that I'm not sure I would have found anywhere else."

The path that was littered with injuries isn't one that Smith would've chosen, but he's able to take a step back to realize how much good has come from the way things have played out.

"With being out for so long, obviously I was in college a lot longer than I intended on being. So, I was able to graduate and get into a master's program," Smith said. "I'm getting ready to graduate with my master's in intelligence and national security. With that, I can go into a private sector or a military branch. So, that's something that I'm really grateful for, you know, even though the injury wasn't what I wanted."

Like many at the collegiate level, Smith has aspirations of playing at the next level. But through his success in the classroom, he's ready for whatever comes his way.

"Obviously, the goal at the end of the day is obviously to play in the NFL, but if that doesn't work out, I've set myself up for life outside of football," Smith said. "I found a path I want to pursue. Being able to balance it, obviously isn't easy, but if it's something you want to do, you'll find a way."

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