Ever since he was a little kid, Jackson Smith knew he wanted to get to the NHL as fast as possible. Now, at 6-foot-4 and just 18 years old, the towering defenseman has always had the tools, and he’s just taken a bold new step on his path to the pros.

After two standout seasons with the Tri-City Americans of the WHL, Smith had cemented himself as one of the top blue-liners in junior hockey. During the 2024-25 season, he led all Americans defensemen with 11 goals and 43 assists, earning significant hype as a probable first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

By all accounts, he was set to return to the Americans for one final lap before going pro. After all, Tri-City was a familiar place where he had made a name for himself and looked poised for another big year.

But sometimes, all it takes is one conversation to change everything.

Smith had never seriously considered college hockey, at least not before the NCAA’s rule change allowing CHL players eligibility, and certainly not even right after. But during the 2025 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship, a conversation between Penn State and his father opened a door he hadn’t expected.

What followed was a Zoom call in May. Curiosity turned into genuine interest. Then came a visit to University Park. By the time Smith left campus, he knew he was going to Penn State.

“I think just the facilities, the ice availability, everything about it — you’re playing against bigger, stronger guys, like you would in the NHL,” Smith told PuckPreps on what sold him to commit to Penn State. “The whole package is just more mature in the way they do things. They’re there to help me grow, and I think it’s the better decision for me.”

Smith brings a well-rounded, two-way game with offensive upside. He skates well, defends with confidence, and can quarterback a power play from the blue line, a skillset tailor-made for the NCAA.

“I can move around the ice well, and I think that’ll help me at the college level as well,” he said. “Just the way that I see the game, I think I can adjust to this new level, perform, and be a really good player at it, too.”

It’s easy to see why Penn State views Smith as a cornerstone for its future, and his arrival couldn’t come at a more exciting time.

The Nittany Lions are fresh off their first-ever Frozen Four appearance, a program-defining run that’s sparked national attention and elevated their recruiting profile.

With Smith set to anchor the blue line, Penn State figures to remain a major player not only in the Big Ten title chase but as a national title contender.

“They've grown their program so much over these past 10 years,” Smith said. “They have a cool wall in the dressing room that shows everything like their first win and their first home win. The only thing that they're waiting for now is the national championship. So, I'm looking to come in and help them get that.”

Smith’s move isn’t just a leap toward Penn State, it’s also a bet on himself.

College hockey offers him a professional-style structure, elite competition, and daily opportunities to improve. He sees it as a launchpad toward his ultimate goal: the NHL.

“They work on skills every day, so they can always develop, always develop me, and become a better player,” he said. “I’m coming in, hopefully, as one of the top guys.

“[Penn State] said that they haven't really had a prospect like me before, so I’m coming in, hopefully getting a big role and being trusted with a big role, so I need to perform in that big role. But I'm going to get an opportunity there for sure.”

For a player who once saw only one path forward, Smith’s new direction proves that the best journeys aren’t always the ones you plan. Still, choosing to leave behind a place that shaped him wasn’t easy.

“I was in Tri-City, living there for three years, basically, two full years and a bit of a third year,” Smith said, reflecting on his WHL days. “I got to meet some incredible people, and having to leave those people — it's incredibly hard. I'm going to be missing that place all year.”

Now, with a new chapter beginning in Hockey Valley, Jackson Smith is ready to grow while helping Penn State reach the next level.