MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama wide receiver Shavarez Smith recently sat down with USAJaguars.com to discuss the season, as well as his journey to USA.

Smith enters this weekend's regular-season finale against Navy just seven receptions shy of the program's single-season record which he shares with tight end Wes Saxton. Both Smith and Saxton recorded a single-season record 50 receptions a year ago. Smith currently ranks second in career receiving yards (1,574) at USA, and trails career leader Jeremé Jones (1,589) by 15 yards entering this weekend's contest.

What has your experience been like at South Alabama?
"It's been a huge blessing. Before I came here, when I was in junior college, I couldn't imagine playing football at all because I wasn't getting recruited by any Division I schools. I knew what I was capable of as a football player. I was getting recruited by some Division II schools and some FCS schools. I told my mom that I wasn't sure if I wanted to really play anymore. I had the opportunity to go junior college initially out of high school, but I chose to go Division I and that flipped around my whole career. I had to make a lot of sacrifices in junior college. I went to North Carolina Central out of high school, and the three people who recruited me there got fired so I transferred. I was at three different junior colleges; I started at Georgia Military, then went to Grand Rapids, Michigan, then Dean College in Massachusetts."

What was your experience like in junior college?
"I was so faithful because God has blessed me tremendously. I just trusted His plan for me. I didn't put too much stress on football when I was there, because I figured that would take care of itself. I just tried to develop as a person. I had a lot of things that I needed to improve on, as we all do. I was fortunate enough to identify my problems, and just focused on becoming a better person and better man. I just became more responsible and aware of what I'm doing. When it comes time to be an adult at 18 or 19 years old, you're kind of lost because you're so used to being a child. I had to be smart enough to know there were some changes I needed to make. That's pretty much what I was focusing on when I was in Massachusetts, and I did that. I became a better person, a smarter individual and just more of an adult."

What made you decide on South Alabama?
"My film wasn't the best, and neither were my stats. But (former assistant) Coach (Jerry) Mack came up there and I had a chance to meet him. You never know someone's opinion of you before you meet them, but after meeting him I could tell that we had a connection. We hit it off pretty nicely, and from that he offered me a chance to come here. I didn't have a scholarship, but he offered me an opportunity to come here and earn one. He was a life-saver with that. The University of South Alabama was my only chance to be a Division I football player."

What was your initial impression of USA?
"I didn't come on a visit. I was in awe. My junior college was like most junior colleges as far as facilities. When I got here, I was just in love with the place. I felt like I had accomplished my dream, because at a certain point I didn't think I would even be playing football anymore. I was thinking about where I was going to work and who I was going to work with, and what I was going to do. So when I got here, it was a dream come true. I have great people in place, like Coach Jones, who are helping me do the right things to get to where I want to be. The things that I am accomplishing and experiencing right now are things I couldn't have imagined doing when I was in junior college. I've pretty much been on a cloud since I got here."

Did you ever consider playing baseball if football didn't work out?
"I did, but I knew that would be further down the road. None of that was in place at that time, so I knew I wasn't going to be able to just jump into anything with baseball. But sooner or later I would have tried to get back into the game somehow."

Did you benefit on the football field from having played baseball?
"I didn't really understand how much it would help until my last year (in high school). I would see certain balls in the air, and it was like I naturally caught the ball. And I look on film and it may seem like a spectacular catch, but I'm just judging the ball over my shoulder and it just falls right in. Looking back on it, baseball helped tremendously."

How good is the offense when it plays to its potential?
"We have elite talent on our team. We have guys who have had great high school careers, and guys who are extremely gifted and talented physically. When you have that, all of the talent is going to show at a certain point. It's just a matter of it coming together at once. But all of our games will be won through preparation. You can't win on Saturday – you win Monday through Friday. You can't expect to go out and win on Saturday when you don't prepare like you need to during the week. We just try to make sure we prepare as well as we can, and we're confident that will show on Saturdays."

What is your role within the offense?
"I see my role as a playmaker – somebody who can make game-changing plays and who is capable of winning with single plays in a game. I see myself as a player who can make one play that can affect the outcome of the game or swing the momentum."

What are you majoring in at USA?
"I am an interdisciplinary studies major. I have about six more credits left; I'm finishing up this semester."

What do you want to do when you are done playing football?
"I just want to help people. I have been through a lot, and I have been to some points that I don't want people to have to go through. However I can directly help people, I just want to help people be on the right path. It's a big step from childhood to adulthood, and I specifically want to help that age group from 17-23. I feel like a lot of people are missing that help. I just really want to help people make that transition."

How have your parents impacted you?
"Since I was little, my mom has been the most supportive person I have seen, period. When I was growing up that's just what it was – it was natural for my mom to be at every game with a customized printed t-shirt of each team I am playing on with 'Shavarez's Mother' on the back. My parents are so supportive. My dad gets such a kick out of watching me play this sport; he is who I play for. I want him to be able to say, 'That's my son doing well out there'. And my mother loves to be out there supporting me, so I obviously want to give her something to be proud of. That's just how it's been in my family. They are extremely supportive. My parents have a lot of values and things that they believe in that makes them very special people. I don't know if they understand just how much I love them and appreciate the things they do and the examples they have set for me. They are just supportive. That's who they are and that's what's in their hearts. I come from a very supportive family."

What do you like to do in your spare time?
"I watch film. When it's football season, I pretty much play football. When we get a break, I'm with my family and my younger cousins doing things with them. When we're in season, it's pretty much all football. When I get free time now, I watch NFL and college film and I come up here for treatment. Aside from that, it's just academic responsibilities."

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