“[Smith] has been a pleasant surprise,” Murphy said. “But we had high expectations because we thought he was one of our top recruits. The only surprise is that he’s been able to transition to our offense so flawlessly for a freshman.”

Senior wideout Alex Sarkisian has been similarly impressed by how quickly Smith has adapted to the college game.

“It takes a special kind of player to come in and play as much as he does as a freshman,” Sarkisian said. “But he has a great mental approach to the game and works hard on knowing all of the plays.”

In addition to learning a new playbook, Smith has had to adjust quickly to a completely different style of play.

“[Ivy football] is a tougher type of football,” Smith said. “In Florida, we are all speed, but here everyone is tough, everyone is stronger. That’s the main difference.”

Since joining the squad, Smith has tried to combine the contrasting styles of play.

“Coach wants me to play with speed, so I play with it,” he said. “But he also wants me to play with toughness.”

The rookie says there are other attributes that have helped him succeed as a returner.

“I think it’s my instinct,” he says. “Reacting to player’s movements and finding the hole to run through and then the burst of speed after.”

As fast as Smith is on the gridiron, he has flown up the depth charts even faster. Coming into the preseason, the rookie was behind a couple of other players in the returning pecking order but was named the starting returner on the day of the team’s first game. Similarly, Smith has gone from an afterthought in the passing game to one of Winters’ top targets, with still more room to move.

“He certainly has the potential to be a number one receiver,” Sarkisian said.

While that may be the case, Smith is currently happy in the slot role.

“I think for me I’ll always be the main slot guy, being at my height with my quickness,” Smith said. “I like [that role] a lot. Linebackers can’t keep up.”