FAU quarterback Rusty Smith threw for 76 touchdowns in his career. (FAUOwlAccess.com photo)
Perfect Tenn.
FAU quarterback Rusty Smith becomes the first Owl ever selected in the NFL Draft when the Tennessee Titans select him in the sixth round.
Originally published on
4/24/2010
by
Marcus Nelson
> Other signees: Rose, Harmon sign free agent deals
> DraftBrowser: Capsules of FAU players
> Video: Titans coach Jeff Fisher on Rusty Smith
> Video: A look back at Rusty Smith's FAU career
Former FAU quarterback Rusty Smith spent the last four years running the Owls’ pro-style offense.
Now it’s Smith himself who is a pro.
Smith became the first FAU player to be taken in the NFL Draft when he was selected by the Titans in the sixth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday.
“I’m extremely happy,” Smith said on a media conference call. “I’m very, very pleased the Tennessee Titans were willing to use a draft pick on me. They won’t regret it. I’m going to come up there and I’m going to work hard and I’m going to give it the best that I can.”
Smith pointed to running Howard Schnellenberger’s pro-style offense as a reason he thinks he can make a contribution to the Titans.
“I feel that I have been in a pro style offense from high school until college,” Smith said. “Every system that I have ever played in was a pro style offense. I have been under center my entire career. I’m very good at I think reading defenses from under center and dropping back from under center. I will do whatever the coaches ask me to do.”
Schnellenberger said he was happy Smith was selected.
“I am very happy for him, his family and his new wife,” said Schnellenberger who, before the 2008 season, predicted Smith would be a first round choice. Schnellenberger said. "I am happy for Florida Atlantic and this football team and people who helped him achieve that. And I’m happy for me because I was out on long limb.”
Smith said he is proud to be the first Owl drafted.
“It’s amazing,” Smith said. “Since I have been at FAU, me and my graduating class have set a lot of records. It is great to be a part of one more.”
Titans coach Jeff Fisher thinks Smith could fit in nicely on the team.
“We’re going to give Rusty every opportunity and see what he can do,” Fisher said. “ “He’s going to come in and compete and we want to give him an opportunity.”
The Titans were also impressed with Smith's footwork.
"He’s a pocket passer. He’s not going to set any 40 yard records but he slides great in the pocket," said Tennessee offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger. "I fell in love with him when I watched his technique. His feet are always underneath him. He can get rid of it from any place he needs to. He makes all the throws, deep and short. He’s one of the few guys that has taken snaps consistently from underneath the center. He’s been in the gun and underneath but it has been a pro style and taking snaps from under the center."
The Titans traded up with Seattle for the pick, the 176th overall and seventh in the round.
Smith plans to leave for Nashville for the Titans’ rookie mini-camp on Thursday and he will see a familar face.
Fullback Willie Rose also signed with Tennesee following the draft.
Also Saturday night FAU tight end Jason Harmon signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.