OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Torrey Smith overcame a variety of obstacles to become the deep threat the Baltimore Ravens needed to make it to the Super Bowl.
Smith helped his single mother raise her six other children by working after school as a teenager. Early this season, his second with the Ravens, tragedy struck less than 24 hours before Baltimore faced New England on Sept. 23: Smith’s younger brother, Tevin Jones, was killed in a motorcycle accident in Virginia.
Smith left the team to join his family, then returned to catch six passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns in Baltimore’s 31-30 victory.
Now Smith and the Ravens will play for the NFL championship against San Francisco this Sunday.
Smith has put his brother’s death behind him, saying, “I’m just focused on playing football.”
