Trey Smith, now a two-time Super Bowl champion entering his fifth season with the Kansas City Chiefs, admitted recently on a podcast that his journey to Tennessee almost didn’t happen.
A standout offensive lineman for the Vols from 2017 to 2020, he thrived during a difficult stretch for the program. Tennessee managed just 20 wins across those four seasons, a total that might have been lower without Smith’s presence.
His dominance in Knoxville remains a bright spot in an otherwise challenging era for the Volunteers. Smith overcame a life-threatening blood clot diagnosis in 2018 to become one of college football’s premier linemen.
Two-Time Super Bowl Champion Trey Smith Reflects on Unexpected Tennessee Commitment
Trey Smith, who was franchise-tagged by Kansas City for the 2025 season, recently opened up about his surprising college decision during an appearance on the “New Heights” podcast, hosted by Travis and Jason Kelce. Despite his current connection with Tennessee, Smith admitted his younger self never saw that path coming.
“I did not like Tennessee,” said Smith, who revealed his childhood allegiance was firmly with Alabama. “I always grew up a Bama fan,” he added, attributing that loyalty to a kindergarten teacher whose son worked as an equipment manager for the Crimson Tide.
That connection gave Smith his first exposure to SEC football. “I went to the locker room on game day,” he said. “My favorite color’s red. I love elephants. Bama was one of the top schools. Nick Saban has won all these championships.”
Smith’s recruitment exploded early. “I got my first offer from Ole Miss, I think when I was 14, from Hugh Freeze,” he said. “That was just sort of like a domino effect. I got offers from across the country.”
As the 2017 recruiting cycle progressed, Smith’s top options narrowed. Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, and Tennessee remained. But the real decision came down to just two.
“The night of my decision, it was really Ohio State and Tennessee. And then I flipped to Tennessee in the middle of the night,” Smith recalled. “I was like, you know what – Tennessee makes more sense long term. It’s my home. I want to live there one day. I think it was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life.”
Looking back, Smith expressed deep gratitude for his time in Knoxville. “The last time I played a snap for Tennessee was going on over a decade ago, and people still know my name,” he said. “You’re a great player and you treat the city right, man, they’ll show love continuously.”
Smith played at Tennessee from 2017 to 2020, starting 41 games at guard and tackle. He was an All-SEC second team selection as a freshman, missed part of 2018 due to blood clots in his lungs, then returned to earn first team honors in both 2019 and 2020. In his final year, he did not allow a single sack.
The Humboldt, Tennessee, native was ESPN’s No. 1 overall prospect in the 2017 recruiting class before the medical issues caused him to slip to the sixth round (226th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Since joining Kansas City, Smith has been integral to their championship success, winning Super Bowl LVII and Super Bowl LVIII. Though the Chiefs lost Super Bowl LIX to Philadelphia earlier this year, Smith continues building his legacy as one of the NFL’s premier guards.
His journey from Alabama fan to Tennessee legend to NFL champion shows how unexpected paths can lead to extraordinary outcomes.
