Brad Smith settles in with Jets

By Joe Scalzo

He’s successfully made the transition from quarterback to wide receiver and expects a better record this fall.

Two years ago, Brad Smith was the uncertain college kid who spent his mornings in the weight room and his afternoons talking to NFL teams and his evenings worrying and hoping and sweating and praying about the NFL Draft.

“It’s stressful,” said Smith, a Chaney High graduate who was selected by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 2006 draft. “It looks stressful on TV and it is. You’re worried about whether people like you, if somebody is going to pick you, when they’re going to pick you. ...

“You talk to a lot of teams, but you don’t what they really think. You just have to wait and see.”

Two years ago, Smith, who spoke by phone Friday while walking one of his dogs at his home in Long Island, was a record-setting quarterback at Missouri who projected as an “athlete” in the NFL, which is a nice way of saying “We’re not exactly sure where he’s going to play.” The Jets turned him into a wide receiver who also plays on special teams and, occasionally, at quarterback and running back.

The NFL is tough enough for college wide receivers trying to make it as, you know, wide receivers. For Smith, who had to learn several new positions, it was a lot tougher.

“There’s a big learning curve,” he said. “The transition to the NFL is a big deal. You’re learning a lot of different things.

“I’m a lot more comfortable now. I feel like I’m improving every day.”

Smith has played in all 32 regular-season games for the Jets the past two years, starting nine last season. He caught 32 passes for 325 yards and two TDs last fall for New York, which went 4-12 after making the playoffs the year before.

He expects to make an even bigger contribution this season.

“Anytime you can contribute, it feels good,” he said. “You want to be able to help the team. I want to do a little bit more and win more games and then everyone’s happy.”

Although he had a bigger role, the losing took its toll on him — and the team.

“I’m glad last season is over with,” he said. “We’ve been able to regroup. We have high hopes this year, high expectations. We’ve got some new guys [free agents] and everyone is really working hard.”

He’ll probably watch the draft to see who the team takes, but said he’s too busy to follow it closely.

When asked if he might take more interest if the Jets drafted five wide receivers, Smith laughed and said, “Probably, yes, if they would do that it would mean something.

“But I’m really just overwhelmed with the work I’m doing here. I’m focused on getting better and finding a way to contribute to the team.

“It basically comes down to, the guys that come to New York, whoever they are, are here to help the team win.”

Smith has kept tabs on another Chaney graduate, Keilen Dykes, who is a draft hopeful out of West Virginia.

“I follow him all the time,” he said. “He’s been a busy guy, so I haven’t talked to him a lot lately. Any guy from Chaney or from Youngstown, you look out for him and hope you hear good things about him.”

Dykes is one of several Mahoning Valley natives with a good chance to be drafted later this month. Smith said the key is to worry less about where you’re drafted and worry more about doing well once you sign with a team.

“Whether you’re a free agent or you get drafted in the first round, it comes down to if you can play,” he said. “That’s all that matters. You just have to keep working hard to become the best player you can be.

“As long as you’re in the building, you’ve got the same opportunity as the next guy. You just have to make the most of it.”

Smith got married last March to his longtime girlfriend, Rosalynn, an Austin, Texas, native who started dating him when he was playing at Missouri. They have two dogs.

“Married life is good,” he said.

His family visited him in New York soon after he was drafted and he spent a few days going to all the tourist destinations. Now he mostly spends time at Jets headquarters or hanging out at home.

“Like anywhere, there’s some good things about [living in New York] and there’s some not good things,” he said. “There’s a lot to do, there’s a lot of places to eat, a lot of people. It’s good for the most part.”

And, if things go as expected this year, Smith’s life will only get better.

scalzo@vindy.com