A self-described optimist, Troy Smith was confronting his first possible audible.
Gathered around the former Ohio State quarterback last week at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis was a group of callous pro football writers. It can be a sinister group that often views the Heisman Trophy as nothing other than a sexy jumping-off point before the crash.
“You make it sound like being 6-foot is a disease,” Smith said, snapping at one reporter.
Smith has the Heisman Trophy to showcase but he will enter the NFL draft lucky to be among the top 100 players chosen.
There is even speculation that because of his relatively small stature, and questions about his arm strength following his miserable performance in the national championship game against Florida, that he might drop to the draft’s second day. That’s when teams fill in roster spots.
Nothing sharpens pens like the story of a tumble from a pedestal.
“It’s not strange because the people who make those opinions don’t have a say-so to where we go,” Smith said. “I think there’s a lot of great players in college football. The people who pass out the awards and the accolades, who’s to say the people who get the awards are the chosen people?”
Smith went 21-2 as a starter in his final two seasons, but the last loss, 41-14 against Florida, was devastating. Smith completed just 4-of-14 passes for 35 yards.
And the reports on his combine throwing drills weren’t favorable. Smith is now ranked as possibly the sixth-best quarterback prospect.
Smith’s opinion?
“My opinion doesn’t matter either,” Smith said. “I don’t hold the key to anything. All I can control is what goes on in my life, getting better as a man, getting better as a quarterback.”
