Braxton Smith is glad to be home.

Smith, after starting at quarterback his senior season at LaGrange High in 2010, spent his freshman season in college at Highland Community College in Kansas.

The next time Smith takes a snap, though, it will be a lot closer to home.

Smith has transferred to Point University in West Point, and he’s hoping to be the team’s starting quarterback this fall.

Smith is part of a growing number of local players who will be suiting up for Point.

“It’s a great chance for me,” Smith said. “I wanted to be a little closer to home and let my family have the opportunity to watch me play football again. They really only got the chance to come out to one game last year, so it will be great to be able to be closer to home so that my friends and family can come out.”

Smith received a rough introduction to the college game last year.

In his first game, Smith suffered an injury, which kept him out for the rest of the season.

“It was really frustrating for me,” said Smith, who received a red-shirt year, meaning he still has four years of college eligibility remaining. “It made me so mad because there are a lot of big guys in college and I was coming in at 178, so I was a little overmatched.”

During the spring, Smith was contacted by the folks at Point, and he was presented with the chance to play near home.

He couldn’t pass it by. “When I flew home for spring break I went down there and they offered me,” Smith said. “It was just a great chance and a great fit for me.”

Although Smith wasn’t able to play much last season, he wasn’t idle.

He used the time to hit the weight room, which he hopes will help keep him healthy.

“I knew that I would have to gain weight,” Smith said. “Once I got hurt and I got cleared to work out, that’s what I spent all my time on. Now I am at 205 and I’m trying to gain a little more so that I wont get injured again.”

Point University will be playing its first full schedule this fall after playing a club schedule last year.

Smith said the chance to play with a lot of familiar faces from his prep days at LaGrange High was also a selling point.

“It’s really exciting,” Smith said. “I just found out the other day that one of my former LaGrange players, DeShawdrick Varner is going there. I have been really excited about the recruiting class that they have coming in. I can’t wait to get out there and start playing with them.”

Smith said he will come in with the goal of being the starting quarterback on Day 1.

“I am ready to play,” Smith said. “The coaches seem to be really happy with me, and I’m just ready to get on the field and get started this season.”