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Frankly Speaking: Roquan's the Man

Roquan Smith is a person young people can emulate when it comes to pursuing a path to success.

Frankly Speaking: This is a column of opinion and analysis by 13WMAZ’s veteran news and sports anchor, Frank Malloy.

The three-ring circus which doubles as the NFL Draft ran its course last week inside AT&T Stadium in Dallas.

This year's edition featured a little bit of everything including over 200 players hearing the names called on national television – although, truth be told – not all of the names were pronounced correctly or even close to correctly.

One name they didn't have trouble with – Smith – as in Roquan Smith, award-winning linebacker from the University of Georgia by way of Macon County High School in Montezuma.

Roquan's journey to the NFL took a few twists and turns along the way. He preferred basketball to football growing up -- his high school coach actually put him off the team to get his attention and he initially chose UCLA during a nationally-televised Signing Day segment in February 2015.

Mere bumps in the road for a young man who quickly matured and committed himself to excellence both on the field and in the classroom.

You see, this is a young man who gets it. He understands he's gifted and he understands the responsibilities that come with those gifts.

Toss in his ever-present smile and polite manner and you come up with a young man who's easy to root for and who makes you proud to say he's one of ours.

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