When Jason Smith’s name is announced at Saturday’s NFL draft, his life will change in ways that he can’t even imagine.

Projected to be one of the first three players selected, Baylor’s senior offensive tackle will be an instant multimillionaire. The big man will be one of the cornerstones for Detroit, St. Louis, Kansas City or Seattle, a high-profile player that a struggling franchise can build around.

Smith knows this is his one-in-a-million shot at the big time. But when he walks on that stage at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, he won’t feel like some guy who’s lucky to be there.

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Photos: Jason Smith retrospective

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Baylor senior offensive tackle Jason Smith is projected to be one of the first three players chosen in Saturday's NFL draft in New York. One of Baylor's most animated players, Smith has been a hit on national television and radio shows during the past two months. (Jerry Larson photos)

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BAYLOR 1ST-ROUND NFL DRAFT PICKS

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Year	Player	Pos	Pick	Team
1942	Jack Wilson	HB	2	Cleveland Rams
1950	Adrian Burk	QB	2	Baltimore Colts
1952	Larry Isbell	QB	7	Washington Redskins
1954	Cotton Davidson	QB	5	Baltimore Colts
1957	Del Shofner	HB	11	Los Angeles Rams
1957	Bill Glass	G	12	Cleveland Browns
1959	Paul Dickson	T	9	Los Angeles Rams
1962	Ronnie Bull	RB	7	Chicago Bears
1965	Lawrence Elkins	WR	10	Green Bay Packers
1977	Gary Green	DB	10	Kansas City Chiefs
1979	Greg Hawthorne	RB	28	Pittsburgh Steelers
1982	Walter Abercrombie	RB	12	Pittsburgh Steelers
1984	*Mark Adickes	OT	5	Kansas City Chiefs
1990	James Francis	LB	12	Cincinnati Bengals
1996	Daryl Gardener	DT	20	Miami Dolphins

* Picked in supplemental draft

“I didn’t just buy a 50-cent lottery ticket, and this happened,” Smith said. “I didn’t just wake up and say I’m going to be an NFL player. I always trained like I wanted to be the best in the nation at my position, and I’m still singing the same song. I live it, eat it and sleep it every day.”

If the Detroit Lions take Smith with the first pick in the NFL draft, he’ll be the first top selection in Baylor history.

Only two Baylor players have been chosen with the second pick in the draft, and that was eons ago — halfback Jack Wilson by the Cleveland Rams in 1942 and quarterback Adrian Burk by the Baltimore Colts in 1950. The Bears have had 14 first-round picks in NFL history, but Smith will be the first since defensive lineman Daryl Gardener was chosen by the Miami Dolphins with the 20th pick in the first round of the 1996 draft.

It’s heady stuff for a guy who came to Baylor five years ago as an unheralded tight end out of Dallas W.T. White High School before switching to offensive tackle three years ago.

The Lions have reportedly been in discussions with Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford for several days, but Smith or Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry could be next on their radar. St. Louis has the second pick, followed by Kansas City and Seattle.

“Obviously, I wouldn’t be surprised if I was the No. 1 pick because there has been talk about it,” Smith said. “I’ll feel privileged if it happens. If the Lions pick me, they’ll get what they pay for. Nobody will ever question my effort and attitude because those are things I can control.”

Marketing Baylor

For a Baylor football program that hasn’t had a winning season since 1995, Smith’s rise to the top of the NFL draft board is like manna from heaven. He’s been all over the national media in the past two months, doing interviews on ESPN, high-profile radio shows and with major newspapers.

Not only is Smith a gifted football player, he’s a serious student who already has his Baylor education degree in hand. Always an entertaining interviewee, Smith can go from serious to funny to emotional in a matter of minutes.

With every interview, he’s talked about how second-year Baylor coach Art Briles’ program is on the rise. If his Baylor experience can make him a top NFL pick, why can’t it happen for the Bears’ next recruit?

“We could get the smartest marketers in Texas and ask them how we could best market Baylor University, and they couldn’t come up with a better scenario than what’s going to happen Saturday in New York,” Briles said. “Jason is a great person, and it’s been nothing but positive for Baylor. We just have to take that and continue to climb as a football program.”

Former Baylor coach Grant Teaff believes Smith could become the kind of role model for the university that All-America linebacker Mike Singletary became during his Hall of Fame career as the middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears.

“There are certain guys who can become signboards for your program,” Teaff said. “Mike Singletary was one of those guys for us with the success he had. I think Jason can be that kind of guy for Baylor’s program now because of the kind of youngster he is. He not only has the athletic talent, he’s also a leader. The pro guys realize this is no facade — he’s got the right attitude and approach towards life.”

Stronger, better, faster

During the last few seasons, Smith has learned that life often hinges on timing and choices.

If Smith had chosen to come out for the NFL draft after an injury-plagued junior year, he was projected to be a second- or third-round pick. But after discussing the situation with Briles after his arrival at Baylor in November 2007, Smith decided to return for his senior year.

“I could tell there was a difference in the way Coach Briles walked and talked and that things were going to change,” Smith said. “He told me some things I needed to do to get to where I want to be. I knew I had to improve my pass- and run-blocking techniques. I had to work on different things that I could get better at.”

Smith wanted a strength coach who would push him, and he found his man in Baylor’s Kaz Kazadi. Formerly a strength coach for the Kansas City Chiefs, Kazadi was amazed by how Smith always wanted to be pushed even harder after an exhausting workout.

“Jason wanted you to lay out a plan, and he’d attack it,” Kazadi said. “He would demand that you give him more to do. He could easily turn an hour weight-lifting session into three. He wanted to improve his mobility and flexibility, and he’d pay attention to detail to get it done. The best way to sum up Jason’s work ethic? It’s dangerous.”

Projected to be a potential first-round pick at the start of last season, Smith quickly developed into a dominating left tackle. Not only did he become a key pass blocker for quarterback Robert Griffin, he helped Baylor revive a once-dormant ground game with his run blocking.

Big 12 terror

Opposing Big 12 coaches knew they had to be aware of the 6-foot-5-inch, 307-pound Smith’s abilities when they scouted the Bears. They saw how aggressive he was on every play and how determined he was to control the line of scrimmage.

“Watching him and preparing for him, you could tell this guy was real good,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. “He not only has great size, but he has great footwork to go along with it. He has a lot of athleticism and could always keep his balance.”

“Jason’s going to have a long career in the NFL,” said Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman, former head coach of the Green Bay Packers. “He not only has great length and excellent feet, he’s been well-coached and is fundamentally sound. He’s got a very bright future.”

After an All-American season, Smith was projected as one of the top 10 picks in the draft, but his stock shot up even more after he attended the NFL combine in Indianapolis in February.

Pro scouts not only witnessed his athleticism, they were also impressed by his character in face-to-face interviews.

“You could see that he not only had great athletic ability, but he also had tremendous work habits and intelligence,” Tennessee Titans scout C.O. Brocato said. “He’s got a great attitude. He needs to get a little stronger, but that will come in time. He just has to hang in there, and he’ll have a great future.”

Constantly working

Even after Smith returned from the NFL combine, he didn’t take a vacation. He continued to work out with Kazadi to stay in condition. When he’s chosen by an NFL team, he wants to hit the ground running.

“I’m not in Honolulu thinking about the draft,” Smith said. “I’m here in Waco focusing on football. This is what I’ve chosen to do with my life, and I want to be prepared. I realize I’m a product now, and the NFL is a business 24-7. I’m going to be paid to do a job, and if I don’t they’ll fire me.”

Smith plans to bring several family members, including his mother and father, to New York to experience his life-changing day. Briles, Kazadi and Baylor offensive line coach Randy Clements will also be on hand along with a few friends.

“I have a very tight circle — that’s how I roll,” Smith said. “I don’t need a hundred people.”

After he signs his contract, Smith doesn’t have plans to buy a mansion or a fleet of cars.

He’ll be an instant millionaire, but he said his needs will remain simple.

“I’m going to buy some insurance,” Smith said. “Then I’m going to pay off my truck.”

jwerner@wacotrib.com

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