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“Eighth wonder” in the making
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“Eighth wonder” in the making

Antonio Smith works out Monday, Jan. 28, 2008, at Michigan State's football practice facility in East Lansing, Mich. More than a decade ago, Smith, 31, was the building block upon which Tom Izzo built one of the nation's best basketball programs--helping it reach the first of four Final Fours under the coach in 1999. Now Smith is trying to make football a career despite not playing the sport since the eighth grade and being relatively old, turning 32 a week before the NFL draft in April.
Antonio Smith works out Monday, Jan. 28, 2008, at Michigan State’s football practice facility in East Lansing, Mich. More than a decade ago, Smith, 31, was the building block upon which Tom Izzo built one of the nation’s best basketball programs–helping it reach the first of four Final Fours under the coach in 1999. Now Smith is trying to make football a career despite not playing the sport since the eighth grade and being relatively old, turning 32 a week before the NFL draft in April.
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By | Special to The Denver Post
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Getting your player ready...

In 1999, Antonio Smith helped Michigan State reach the Final Four. Now, Smith has given up the round ball for the pigskin.

Despite not playing football since eighth grade, Smith, who turns 32 the week before the draft, is hoping to catch the eye of an NFL scout. It will be hard to miss a 6-foot-8, 260-pound player running routes.

“If he makes it, it would be a heck of a story because it would be like the eighth wonder of the world,” longtime Cowboys personnel director Gil Brandt told The Associated Press on Monday.

Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo said: “I think it’s awesome that he’s finally doing this. Me and (former MSU football coach Nick) Saban wanted him to play football as a fifth-year senior.”

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