Eighth Year, Best Year For Jaron Smith In College Park

For many people, the choice between an eighth year of college and a massive WWE contract wouldn’t be given a second thought. When Jaron Smith was faced with that same dilemma over the summer, however, he immediately knew it was going to be a decision that took some time to make. 

“I think a lot of people might have immediately said yes to that offer, but I didn’t,” Smith said. “I loved Maryland and I knew there was more that I still could accomplish here, both individually and with my team.”

As soon as Smith got the call from the WWE with the official offer after spending his summer working out for them, he went to make a phone call. The first call wasn’t to his parents, but rather to Maryland head coach Alex Clemsen. 

Of course, Clemsen deeply wanted him to return to the on-the-rise program for his eighth year, but he also wanted him to make the decision for himself. 

“(Clemsen) was always very passionate about me having that option,” Smith said. “Obviously, he wanted me to come back and wrestle here, but he wanted me to have that choice.”

The pair talked for about 30 minutes right after Smith received the offer, then Smith called his father to talk through it again. For several weeks, the three men were in constant communication to make the best decision for Smith.

Heading into the summer, Smith was firmly set to return to Maryland. A half-joke by Clemsen at a tournament about Smith coming back for his eighth year and moving up to heavyweight had turned into a serious path once former heavyweight Zach Schrader graduated and there was a need to fill that spot. 

Then, summer came around and Smith was invited to Dallas for a WWE tryout. Of course, he killed it, as Clemsen expected and was asked to move on to Orlando for a second tryout. Shining once again in both the physical skills as well as the acting and charisma needed to succeed in the WWE, Smith earned an official offer—a huge honor but one that poked a hole in his previous plan. 

“It was a really fun experience,” Smith said. “I got to learn a lot and I did really well. I definitely hope they’re in my future, it just wasn’t time to leave Maryland yet.”

After weeks of deliberation, Smith officially decided to return for his eighth season alongside the most talented team in the Clemsen era. 

“I think it always brings a certain amount of pride when a guy sacrifices something to come back for the program,” Smith said. I think making the decision to come back shows much I value the program and what is being built here.”

A Columbia, MD native, Smith has found a home in College Park through his eight years—a home he couldn’t envision parting with for another college.

“I honestly couldn’t imagine wrestling at any other school,” Smith said. “When I first graduated from undergrad, I saw a lot of people transferring somewhere else to get their master’s. That was never even really a thought in my mind. I would never wrestle anywhere else collegiately besides Maryland.

“Big Ten Wrestling, a high ranking for my major at school, and being close to my family, those were always the three most important things to me,” he added. “To me, getting to experience all three of those has been invaluable.”

Not everything has run smoothly, however, as Smith suffered season-ending injuries in three of his first four seasons. His fourth season, the 2018-19 year, saw a new coaching staff as Clemsen took over the program. 

“I guess I would have had a perfectly good excuse to go somewhere else, but it honestly never really crossed my mind,” Smith said. “For one, I really liked Clemsen and the coaching staff we have. And two, on the school-side of everything, it was never an option to leave either. I enjoy the company of my family; I enjoy the school that I now have two degrees from too much to leave.”

Both Smith and Clemsen admit they had a few early hiccups as they went through the early process of feeling each other out while Smith worked to overcome his injuries. The two pushed to find a balance between a real injury where Smith needed to confidently step up and speak, and when he needed to push through mentally. 

“In that area I really needed to grow up,” Smith said. “In some cases, I would be like, ‘my knee hurts’, but really my lungs were burning. Or it’d be my shoulder, but it was really my brain telling me to stop when I could actually do more.

“But I also feel like I’ve grown a lot in using my voice and speaking up about stuff that doesn’t feel right because I know my body,” he added. 

Clemsen has seen that growth first-hand as the two have strengthened their bond through their five seasons together. 

“(Smith) has learned to battle,” Clemsen said. “Not just on the mat, but in the classroom too. He was always gifted and bright, but to watch him grow under pressure and stress has been really fun. Sometimes early, he would shy away from hard; there was probably a little bit of a trust factor there. But we have gotten close and he knows I love him and that our staff only wants the best for him in ALL areas of life.”

Today, Smith is a leader and the closer on a Maryland wrestling program that is coming off its first ranked win since 2013 with an 18-16 win over No. 16 Pittsburgh on Friday. With the Terps down 15-16 heading into the heavyweight bout, Smith came away with the 6-1 decision to seal the program-defining victory. 

Smith attributes a lot of the team’s early success to the culture instilled by Clemsen and the buy-in by all the guys he’s brought in.

“The culture is so much stronger now,” Smith said. “Guys are just so bought in now and a lot of that is due to Clemsen. You can feel the difference in energy every day.” 

Still, Smith, currently ranked No. 15 by FloWrestling and No. 20 by Intermat in the heavyweight class, has bigger goals, both individually and for the team—goals that were a driving force in his decision to return.

“I want our team to be better and so I came back for the team,” Smith told Terrapin Sports Central. “All-American is the goal for me individually. But if I can be the guy that decides as many duals as possible this year, that’s right up there with it. I want to be that guy for this team.”

It may look a little different than guys are accustomed to—Smith lives alone now instead of with multiple teammates like he used to—but he can accurately say that he’s seen pretty much everything there is to see in college wrestling. 

That serves Smith well as a team leader. 

“First off, Jaron is a great human, so having him around another year is great on every level,” Clemsen said. “To have his seniority and experience anchoring a young team is priceless. Also, what it says about his experience and love for our program is unmeasurable and we will always be grateful for that.”

“Jaron is the old head of the team,” three-year wrestler Dominic Solis added. “Even though I am a captain, I still look to Jaron for advice since he’s been in the game longer.”

Smith’s path to Maryland greatness has without a doubt been unconventional. However, it’s always been one Smith wouldn’t trade for anything.

Now, with soon to be three Maryland degrees and several big-time bout victories to his name, Smith is still right where he belongs. 

“This place has truly become my home. It’s cliché to say, but it’s true. I couldn’t imagine doing any of it anywhere else.”

As far as Smith’s post-Maryland career? Those around him have no doubts he will reach new heights. 

“He is going to be a star, plain and simple,” Clemsen said. “Look at him. Listen to him. He has that it factor. Big, fast, jacked, good looking, great hair—he is the total package. I have no doubt he could be as big as the Rock someday!”