Editor’s note: This feature is courtesy of Central Michigan Life, the CMU student newspaper. NIU plays CMU at 3:05 p.m. Saturday at Huskie Stadium.

This is how it was supposed to be. This is how it should have been. This is what he waited for. Kent Smith finally has what he wanted: all eyes on him.

“Being a quarterback, there’s always going to be pressure because games are won and lost on your shoulders,” Smith said. “The crowd points the finger right at the quarterback, whether it’s his fault or not. I want that responsibility, and I drive off of that.”

The 6-foot-5 junior from Toledo has plenty of eyes on him after the Chippewas came from behind in the fourth quarter to beat Kent State 24-21 on Oct. 2.

Smith has accounted for nine of the Chippewas’ 13 offensive touchdowns this season. Five of those were rushing and the other four through the air.

It was Smith’s legs that bailed CMU out against the KSU, rushing for two touchdowns.

“That’s a kid’s dream,” Smith said. “To win a close game like that in the closing seconds and on fourth down as well, you can’t ask for a better situation.”

But it hasn’t always been easy. Smith appeared in four games as a redshirt freshman, including a start against Western Michigan. Last season, Smith did not play in a single game.

For all the success Smith is enjoying, things could have been much different. A talented high school basketball player, Smith was told by former coach Mike DeBord that he could play both sports at CMU.

“That was basically his trick to get me here because I could have gone elsewhere and played basketball and football,” Smith said. “At the time, Scott Loeffler was here and that was the reason I came here, because I knew he could develop me and potentially take me to the next level.”

Unhappy with the way things were going, Smith contemplated transferring elsewhere. He had friends that played at Florida A&M and he also had the option of returning home to Toledo.

Smith points to his father for helping him through the situation. He said the way he was raised taught him to be a good person.

“There really wasn’t a clear reason as to why I wasn’t playing and that kind of had me upset, and I was looking elsewhere,” Smith said. “But that’s not what I wanted to do with my life. My dad helped me realize that football is what pays the bills and I am here on a football scholarship. Growing up, he raised me to have thick skin.”

Smith would need thick skin throughout spring ball and much of training camp.

Senior Grant Arnoldink was getting most of the reps with the first team offense and even started in the Chippewas season opener at Indiana.

But Smith understood why he wasn’t the No. 1 quarterback right away.

“I couldn’t really complain because Grant did a pretty good job in training camp this summer,” Smith said. “He did outperform me, but I knew what I was capable of doing. I couldn’t blame anyone but myself and I knew in my heart I should be the starter.”

It didn’t take long for new head coach Brian Kelly to take notice either. In the second half of CMU’s season opener against Indiana the Chippewas were trailing and Smith entered the game, going 10-of-17 passing for 148 yards. He led CMU to its only score, a 6-yard touchdown toss to Troy Peyerk.

Kelly said Smith has been working hard to learn his form of the spread offense and that Smith works hard each and every week.

Kelly even compares Smith to a certain NFL quarterback.

“Kent has had much better leadership, much better presence,” Kelly said. “Obviously in that fourth down situation against Kent State, he had an opportunity to complete a pass, but saw an opportunity to score instead. Those are the competitors. Brett Favre does that. The fiery competitors find a way to get it in the end zone, and one thing I like about Kent is he’s competing.”

Smith is eighth overall in the MAC in total yards and averages 203.6 per game. The Chippewas offense is ranked fifth in the conference in total offense with 386 yards per game.

Smith prepares himself well off the field by watching game film of himself and of the upcoming opponent, Kelly said.

After getting shunned by DeBord’s offense, Smith is happy to get another shot. It’s a chance with an offensive scheme that showcases his talent.

“I am now able to show what kind of ability I have,” Smith said. “You can’t really show anybody when you are on the bench. Coach has given me the opportunity to go out and play and I feel that I am making great strides.”

Now that everything is going like it was supposed to, Smith is concentrating on the most challenging goal CMU has — winning a MAC championship.

Despite a tough loss to Bowling Green, Smith has a chance for redemption Saturday against NIU.

And he knows all the eyes and pressure will again be on him, which is exactly how he wants it.