Article

MSU's Smith has the moves

Mavs find ways to get him the ball

By Chad Courrier
The Free Press
MANKATO

As Tyrell Smith grabbed the slant pass at the 25-yard line, six defenders from Concordia-St. Paul stood within a couple of feet, poised to stop him from getting to the goal line.

As he stepped right and cut back left, the other three defenders converged on the Minnesota State receiver.

But Smith wiggled and slid, using his speed and quickness to escape the pile–untouched–to complete the 40-yard scoring play.

Even though it was the final touchdown of a 35-21 loss, the play illustrated why the Mavericks junior maintains a goal of one day playing in the NFL.

"My job is to make plays. I've been doing it all my life," Smith said.

Smith has been one of the bright spots through four nonconference games. He's made 22 receptions for 309 yards with three touchdowns, and he's rushed for 66 yards on three reverses. He's led the Mavericks in receiving four times and once in rushing. He's tied a school record with an 88-yard punt return, giving him 120.2 all-purpose yards per game.

"He's definitely a playmaker," Minnesota State coach Jeff Jamrog said. "He runs good routes, he has excellent speed, excellent hands.

"He makes people miss after he catches it. We knew he was a Division I athlete."

Smith grew up in Detroit and signed a letter of intent to go to Michigan State, but he didn't qualify academically. He spent two seasons at College of the Canyons, a junior college in Santa Clarita, Calif., just north of Los Angeles, helping the football team win a national championship.

Jamrog and assistant Jeff Sims scouted College of the Canyons, though they thought they had no chance at Smith, who was touted as the No. 1 junior-college receiver in the country. Though Smith signed with San Diego State, he didn't meet the academic requirements, and without a visit, leaning only on the positive relationship he built with Sims and the encouraging words of former teammates already at Minnesota State, he chose the Mavericks, which brought him closer to his hometown.

"I don't feel like this changes the goals I want to accomplish," Smith said. "I may have to work harder to achieve them. The greatest receiver in the history of the NFL came from Division II, and if Jerry (Rice) can do it, and other players from Division II have played in the NFL, all I ask is the opportunity."

Another reason Smith chose Minnesota State is that the campus is home to the Minnesota Vikings' training camp, and he took advantage of that by watching Vikings receivers Nate Burleson, Marcus Robinson and Troy Williamson work on their craft. He's played against current NFL cornerbacks when he was in high school and junior college.

"They all have something that I want," he said.

Though Smith could end up rushing, receiving and returning today, he hopes to have an impact on the outcome. Last week, he fumbled a punt early in the game and spent the rest of the afternoon trying to make up for the mistake.

He'd like to get the ball on every play, though he'd trade his stats for a victory. He doesn't want to get caught in the hype of today's North Central Conference opener against longtime rival St. Cloud State, just play his game. But as fans have seen so far, his game is making big plays, the kind you don't forget. Like taking a short slant, making all 11 tacklers miss and scoring the touchdown.

"I remember every play I've ever made because I love the game," he said. "I try to make plays that the fans, my teammates, the coaches ... everybody remembers."