Hubbard grad waits for NFL

Most draft sites have Smith ranked among the top 10 safeties up for grabs.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
When Anthony Smith headed to Syracuse four years ago, he expected to spend his college football career on one of the nation's best football programs.
Things didn't work out that way.
"I thought I was coming into a winning situation, but it became like a whirlwind," the Hubbard High graduate said. "Everything went downhill."
After producing NFL standouts such as Donovan McNabb and Marvin Harrison in the 1990s, Syracuse's program hit a rough spot under veteran coach Paul Pasqualoni, going 16-20 from 2002-04.
After a 54-14 loss in the Champs Sports Bowl in 2004, Pasqualoni was fired and former NFL defensive coordinator Greg Robinson was hired to turn things around.
Smith (6-1, 194) acknowledges he grew frustrated by the losing, but managed to make the most of his opportunity at Syracuse, playing in 11 games at safety as a true freshman in 2002 and emerging as one of the team's best players by his senior year.
"I'm very happy with how I played," he said. "I feel like I performed every week and made plays every week. The team was looking to me to be one of the leaders, and I tried to embrace that role.
"The thing that made it easier was that we had a good group of seniors. Whether we were winning or losing, guys kept playing hard."
Season stats
Smith finished the 2005 season with team-highs in interceptions (six), pass break-ups (eight), passes defended (14) and fumble recoveries (three), earning first team all-Big East honors.
He finished his Syracuse career as the school's all-time leader in blocked kicks (six) and third in interceptions (14).
His next step is the NFL, something he's been dreaming about since he started playing football at age 51/2.
Most draft sites have Smith ranked among the top 10 safeties in the draft, and Mike Mayock of NFL.com has him as the fourth-best safety available.
Smith expects to go in either the second or third round.
"I probably won't even watch [the draft]," said Smith, who plans to be in Hubbard on draft day. "I'll probably be out doing something.
"It's been a little bit nerve-wracking, but I'm trying to make the best of it."
Smith has sought advice about his pro career from several former Syracuse players, including Chicago Bears fullback Thump Belton.
"I talk to him every day," Smith said. "He actually came down and worked out with me last week. He told me to just keep doing what I've been doing and not change anything.
"From now on, I just have to worry about football."
That doesn't mean Smith takes school lightly. He's set to graduate this May with a degree in consumer studies.
"To do it in four years is really unheard of when you're playing sports," he said. "I wanted to graduate, and it makes me proud that it all worked out."
As for Syracuse, Smith is confident that second-year coach Greg Robinson has the program headed in the right direction.
"I think they have the right coach, and all the other coaches are real positive," he said. "They kept encouraging the players even when we were losing. They just need to get the right guys for their system.
"I think Coach Robinson is going to be there for awhile."
scalzo@vindy.com