Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan's Vision Has Him On Doorstep At NCAAs

John Smith admits he doesn't like recruiting. The legendary Ole Miss throws coach doesn't spend much time on that aspect of the job.

He prefers to tutor his athletes and help them get better.

Still, a few years ago, Smith was intrigued when Ole Miss coordinator of operations Dempsey McGuigan showed him film of Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan, who was then a sophomore at Woonsocket (RI) High School.

Smith followed Robinson-O'Hagan's progress and eventually offered him a scholarship, which the Rhode Islander accepted in the fall of 2021.

Now, Robinson-O'Hagan is amid one of the best true freshmen years in history; he gives much of the credit to his work with Smith.

At the NCAA Outdoor Championships, which began on Wednesday at the University of Texas in Austin, Robinson-O'Hagan will compete in the hammer throw starting at 2:30 pm local time and then the s...