Michigan State University Athletics
Smoker Selected To Participate In College Football All-Star Challenge
1/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 26, 2004
CHICAGO - Michigan State senior quarterback Jeff Smoker has been selected to participate in the 2004 Capital One College Football All-Star Challenge at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. FOX will televise the Challenge on Sunday, Feb. 1 at 12:30 p.m. EST, with Dick Stockton, Bill Maas and Jason Garrett calling the action.
The Capital One All-Star Challenge features some of the top names from college football in 2003 including Smoker, Tennessee quarterback Casey Clausen, Notre Dame running back Julius Jones, Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen, Michigan quarterback John Navarre, Michigan running back Chris Perry, Washington wide receiver Reggie Williams and Texas wide receiver Roy Williams.
The eight players comprise four teams, each featuring a quarterback and one running back or wide receiver: Smoker/Perry, Clausen/Roy Williams, Lorenzen/Reggie Williams and Navarre/Jones. The four teams will participate in four skills challenges: Aerial Assault (quarterbacks test their accuracy at moving targets from different distances); Obstacle Rush (running backs/wide receivers race against the clock, navigating through a series of football-related obstacles); Throw Down (test of accuracy and distance as quarterbacks unload a long bomb, attempting to land the ball in a specific area); and Quick Delivery (wide receivers/running backs team up with their quarterback in a test of route running, speed and passing accuracy).
"I'm looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere surrounding the Super Bowl in Houston," Smoker said. "I'm excited about showcasing my talents along with some of the top skill players in college football.
"This weekend, Chris Perry and I will have to forget about being college rivals. Seriously, I'm excited about being paired with Chris because he's a great athlete. I really like our chances of winning this friendly competition."
Smoker, a second-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media, led the conference in passing (261.2 yards per game) and total offense (252.2 ypg.) in 2003. He ranked second in the league in touchdown passes (21) and fourth in passing efficiency (128.8 rating). Smoker became the first quarterback in MSU history to reach the 3,000-yard passing milestone in a season, completing 29-of-50 throws for 357 yards and a school record-tying four TDs vs. Penn State in the home finale. His 302 pass completions, 488 pass attempts, 3,395 passing yards and 21 TD passes all represent the top single-season totals in Spartan history. He recorded 10 200-yard passing games in 2003, including six 300-yard performances.
The 6-foot-3, 224-pound Smoker ranks as MSU's all-time leader in total offense (8,714 yards), passing yards (8,932), pass completions (685), pass attempts (1,150) and TD passes (61). He stands fifth on the Big Ten's all-time passing chart with 8,932 career yards. The Manheim, Pa., native also ranks as the winningest quarterback in Spartan history with 21 career victories (37 career starts).
Current San Francisco 49er teammates Ken Dorsey (Miami-Fla.) and Brandon Lloyd (Illinois) won last year's competition. The College Football All-Star Challenge has attracted some of the game's biggest stars in recent years, including former Michigan State All-American Charles Rogers (Detroit Lions), Donovan McNabb (Philadelphia Eagles), Daunte Culpepper (Minnesota Vikings), Edgerrin James (Indianapolis Colts), Quincy Carter (Dallas Cowboys), Patrick Ramsey (Washington Redskins) and Thomas Jones (Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
The competition is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 30 in front of a live audience of NASA Community members and airs on Super Bowl Sunday on FOX.
