Having already thrown for school records in yards and touchdowns, been named Most Valuable Player in back-to-back bowl game victories, and being considered a hot NFL prospect, it would be easy to see why any college football quarterback would be complacent heading into his final season.

That is not the case for Rusty Smith.

Instead of looking forward to the glitz, glamour and multimillion dollar contract he will likely earn in the NFL, Smith has his eyes set on leading the Owls to a Sun Belt Conference title as well as winning a third-straight bowl game. Smith is so focused on those two goals that he and the coaching staff have not even discussed his NFL eligibility.
“We’re not going to talk about it until after the season,” says Smith. “Both of our first and main goals this season are to win a conference championship, and if we’re talking about something before that, then it’s completely pointless.”

Despite Smith’s silence, the 2007 New Orleans Bowl MVP and 2008 Motor City Bowl MVP is expected to become the first Owl ever selected in the NFL Draft next spring.

While much of which round he gets drafted in will likely depend on this season, head coach Howard Schnellenberger believes Smith will go in the first round no matter what.
“I have said [he will be a first-round draft pick] since his sophomore year,” says Schnellenberger, who has a history of turning college quarterbacks into NFL players. “I stand on my statement.”

Schnellenberger, however, still believes his prolific quarterback can develop further by fine-tuning some of the qualities he has already established.
“A quarterback never quits learning. He could be a quarterback in the NFL for 10 years, and he will still be learning,” says the 75-year-old coach. “If [quarterbacks] ever lose that belief and that push, then they’re on their downhill slide.”

The targeted areas of improvement for Smith include his selection of receivers on passing patterns, being able to read a defense better from the pre-snap position, and having the ability to turn a bad play into a good play.

With the addition of former Schnellenberger quarterback Jeff Brohm to the coaching staff as the quarterbacks coach, Smith expects to learn a lot from the former NFL player.”The knowledge [and] experience that he brings to the table is helping me so much in my game,” says Smith.

The Jacksonville native will be under the tutelage of Brohm for the entire season, a season that will close out Smith’s legacy at FAU.
“I can honestly say that everything I know about football, and what I know about defenses and the actual schemes of games, I have learned while here at FAU,” says Smith. “So, my knowledge of the game has doubled, maybe even tripled since I’ve been here, and my confidence and ability to make plays has gone up too. My time here has been nothing but good.”

While Smith’s time at FAU is coming to a close, the lanky quarterback is determined not to get too caught up in the NFL talk and instead just wants to succeed in his final collegiate season.  

The 22-year-old Smith adds: “I just need to focus completely on my senior season and not worry about what anyone else says.”

If Smith’s drive and determination translate into success in his final year with the Owls, and he continues to impress NFL scouts, then he and the coaching staff can finally have that NFL talk.

“I can honestly say that everything I know about football, and what I know about defenses and the actual schemes of games, I have learned while here at FAU.” -Rusty Smith