'Let's Ride': Ainias Smith Breaks Out Big In Aggies Southwest Classic Win
ARLINGTON, Texas -- As Texas A&M took the field Saturday morning at AT&T Stadium, Ainias Smith could feel the nerves kicking in as he said a prayer with team chaplain Mikado Hinson
After grace came chaos. Attentive, but mayhem awaited Arkansas.
Smith, A&M's heart and soul of the staff, remembers last year's Southwest Classic a bit differently than his teammates. Max Johnson and Evan Stewart combined for a touchdown. Demani Richardson and Antonio Johnson had a scoop-and-score that made ESPN's SportsCenter to close out a 23-21 win.
But Smith? He remembers being helped off the turf, unable to put pressure on his right leg, as being helped to the medical tent. He remembers leaving the stadium with a broken leg and separated ankle.
Smith was mulling his NFL future options. A strong senior season would likely lead him to play on Sundays in stadiums like Jerry World this time next season. Now, his future was in flux.
So if Smith were ancy, he'd be in his rights. This was the place that ended a promising breakout campaign.
The field that cost him a year in the pros.
The stadium he suffered his first ever major injury since playing football in Sugar Land as a kid.
One catch in, and Smith was back. So was the Aggies' usual game plan against Arkansas in a 34-22 win in front of 59,000 fans who made the trip from Fayetteville or College Station; quick stirkes, a highlight play and a stout defensive work.
"Just to be able to come and do what I did, I was just grateful to God," said Smith postgame. "All praise to him."
Smith finished with a team-high four catches for 71 yards. He picked up three first downs, including a 29-yard reception that eventually led to a 49-yard field goal from Randy Bond.
But it was Smith's 82-yard punt return for a touchdown that erupted the A&M fan base. The A&M sideline exploded with praise. And Smith finally relaxed, knowing last year was officially left in the past.
"He's our guy," said A&M coach Jimbo Fisher. "He's done those things ever since he's been here."
Smith actually mishandled the return on initial contact, watching the ball bobble out of his hands for and travel backward an extra 10 yards. Punt returns have always been his specialty, especially in conference play after returning one 95 yards against South Carolina in 2021.
"My first thought was, 'Ok, well now you got to make a play," said Smith. "Don't mess up and don't get tackled."
He didn't. A quick cutback at midfield and Smith was off to the races. Green grass was in his sights. His teammates' chants rang through his ears, giving him that extra burst to make it to the end zone.
"I turned and saw my dawgs [teammates] on the sidelines and I was like, 'let's ride,'" Smith said with a laugh.
Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Evan Stewart (1) and wide receiver Ainias Smith (0) celebrate after Stewart catches a pass for a touchdown against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first half at AT&T Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Smith nearly found a way back to the end zone on a second return, but a trip-up at the 25-yard line turned it into a gain of 43. Before taking the field, Fisher told his returner to be smart with a victory in reach. As the ball continued to hang, Smith transformed from a receiver to an outfielder, handling the punt like Willie Mays back in the day.
By the time he set his feet, all that stared back at him was more grass and less Hogs.
"I was like, 'I got too much space to let this go, so let's ride again,'" said Smith.
Smith's injury was a turning point for the Aggies last season. A&M didn't win another game without him until Week 12's victory over Massachusetts. They lost six consecutive conference matchups, including winnable games against Alabama and Auburn on the road.
Smith sat by and watched as Haynes King missed Evan Stewart in the end zone as a time expired down by four. He saw as Carnell "Cadillac" Williams was heralded a hero following the Tigers' firing of Bryan Harsin.
He could have factored in those close calls, perhaps even been a reason why A&M pulled off the upset.
That won't be the case this season. Smith is full-go for Alabama. He was a part of the Aggies' dismantling of Auburn and he'll be there for the six other teams standing in the way of a trip to Atlanta.
We're nowhere close to playing what we are capable of playing, in my opinion," said Fisher. "But the guys played hard. They're physical. They're playing together."
Smith entered Saturday without a touchdown on the season. Check that box on the way out. He shined on the field that ended his season, and potentially started a run Aggie fans have been on since Fisher's arrival in 2018
"He's our juice, he's our energy, he makes those plays," said Fisher of Smith. "He was outstanding in the game."
Smith returned to the place where it all could have gone wrong. Instead, he broke free and ran rampant.
Better yet, he went along for the ride.
