Bad news for offense’s on Armwood’s schedule this season: Petey Smith is feeling like his old self again.

Smith, the Hawks standout senior linebacker, is rejuvenated and recharged after a somewhat disappointing junior season in which he battled internal injuries throughout the year.

Smith missed half the 2007 season with a bladder disorder, and the time off caused him to balloon to nearly 280 pounds, he said. The extra weight certainly handicapped him on the field when he made his return for the Hawks’ playoff run.

“I’ve always been big, but last year was the biggest I’ve ever been in my life, you know, because of surgery and everything like that. Over the summer I was coming out here every day and working hard, then working with my trainer, and I got it down so I’m back at playing weight,” said Smith, who was listed on this season’s roster by Armwood coaches at 245 pounds. “I feel like a totally different player. Last year, I wasn’t at the best I could be, like my 10th grade year when I was sideline to sideline. I got tired a lot faster. This year, I should be back full strength.”

Speaking of losing weight, Smith isn’t the only one in his family to shed a few pounds. His older brother, Eric, now a freshman running back at Auburn, also has dropped some weight since getting into the Tigers’ program.

“He [went] in at like 232 [pounds],” Petey said. “I know when we went up there right at the end of the summer, he was down to like 218, and I know he’s still lost some weight.”

Petey said he and his family plan to drive up to watch Eric in his first collegiate game Saturday when the Tigers host Louisiana-Monroe. Eric, currently third on the depth chart at running back, has been told he will see playing time this year and will not redshirt, Petey said.

“He’s real excited,” Petey said.

The trip will also be a big one for Petey. Auburn is one of the school’s the Hawks’ standout is considering in his recruitment, and he’s eagerly anticipating to see what the game atmosphere is like at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

“I know it’s a football town and the only thing there is the school. I’ve [heard] it can get pretty wild there during the games,” he said. “I’ve been to a lot of Florida games and I know how the The Swamp is, so hopefully it’s something like that.”

Smith listed North Carolina, Louisville, Illinois and Alabama along with Auburn as the top five schools he was considering back in May. Smith has always been high on Auburn, but one of the other programs has moved up a bit lately.

“Right now, I’d say my top two are Alabama and Auburn,” he said. “Alabama is starting to move up a lot. I’ve been talking to the coaches a little bit. … I definitely want to make that visit before I make a choice to make sure I’m not missing out on something.”