I found this little tidbit about Smoot and Lovie's first conversation and found it very interesting and thought I share it.
Dawuane Smoot - DL - Fighting Illini
The first time Illinois HC Lovie Smith met senior DE Dawuane Smoot, Smith told him: "I want to make you a first-rounder."
It was Smoot -- and not former star teammate Jihad Ward -- who led the Illini with eight sacks, 15 TFL and three forced fumbles last year. "I want to try to be [an NFL] first-rounder and to be an All-American," Smoot said. "Double-digit sacks and then go to the league. Those are my expectations." Smoot was a track star in high school who added 40 pounds of bulk (now listed at 270) while making the transition to collegiate football star. "With Smoot leading the way," defensive coordinator Hardy Nickerson said, "we've got a group of guys we feel can play, and play at a very high level."
Dawuane Smoot - DL - Fighting Illini
The first time Illinois HC Lovie Smith met senior DE Dawuane Smoot, Smith told him: "I want to make you a first-rounder."
It was Smoot -- and not former star teammate Jihad Ward -- who led the Illini with eight sacks, 15 TFL and three forced fumbles last year. "I want to try to be [an NFL] first-rounder and to be an All-American," Smoot said. "Double-digit sacks and then go to the league. Those are my expectations." Smoot was a track star in high school who added 40 pounds of bulk (now listed at 270) while making the transition to collegiate football star. "With Smoot leading the way," defensive coordinator Hardy Nickerson said, "we've got a group of guys we feel can play, and play at a very high level."
