by Kristie Boudwin
Daily Lobo
Amazing speed and tailback experience could combine to make Marcus Smith a wide receiver that will torment opposing defenses this season.
Smith will be a starting wide receiver and return kicks as a sophomore this season for the UNM football team.
Quarterback Kole McKamey said Smith will offer a slightly different skill set than other receivers.
"As a receiver, he brings versatility to the offense and a variety of threats," McKamey said.
Smith made the transition from a tailback to a wide receiver during his redshirt freshman year at UNM in 2003. Smith said he came in underweight as a tailback and found success practicing as a receiver.
"In the open field, with short passes, I have more of a vision than most wide outs would have only playing wide out," Smith said. "The aspect of playing running back and getting hit helped me learn different things in different positions."
McKamey said Smith's experience running the ball compliments his abilities as a receiver as he pushes short plays into bigger gains.
"He is real strong and very agile so he can catch the four- or five-yard routes, make defenders miss and make them into big plays," McKamey said.
Smith ran track for UNM in the 2005 season and placed sixth in 200-meter dash at the Mountain West Conference Championships. Smith's speed is especially evident in the offensive spread options.
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Smith said it is often a mismatch in speed with safeties and he benefits from that mismatch.
"The aspect of getting isolated with another guy in the spread offense works well for me and other players at my position," Smith said.
He said he is confident in the wide-out position after being in the program as a receiver for over a year.
Smith led the offense in the Cherry-Silver game this spring with 97 yards and a touchdown. He said his success in the spring season established expectations that are both motivating and intimidating for a young player.
"It's a good thing to know that people are noticing my accomplishments, but I would rather keep it a secret and let it happen in games," Smith said.
McKamey said Smith needs to handle himself well on the field and keep his work ethic in tact to meet expectations this season.
"Marcus is going to have to step up in a mature and mental way to fulfill expectations that coaches have for him and that I have for him," he said. "Right now we are basing some of our success as a team on him."
