Dan Castellaneta, the voice of Homer Simpson, isn’t the only NIU alumnus to succeed in Hollywood. Jason Matthew Smith has found success on ESPN’s “Playmakers.”

Smith plays the role of Eric Olczyk, the ill-tempered linebacker on ESPN’s first dramatic series. Smith received his master’s degree in theater from NIU and was in DeKalb from 1996 to ’99. He also taught and assisted Theater 101 and 110 courses during his time on campus.

Followers of the show on campus were surprised when told the 6-foot-1, 248-pound Smith got his master’s from NIU.

“Wait, the linebacker went here?” senior communication major Rob Stern said. “I’m shocked.”

Residing in Los Angeles, Smith said the thing he remembers most about his time in DeKalb is the cold winters.

“DeKalb was like Siberia,” Smith said. “The winters were brutal. They were so cold. I spent most of my time inside of Eduardo’s, Lord Stanley’s and Otto’s.”

Smith doesn’t miss the cold temperatures, but does crave food from one of his favorite restaurants.

“I love Burritoville,” Smith said. “I miss those burritos, man.”

The “Playmakers” actor played football from seventh grade until his senior year in high school as an offensive and defensive lineman, but didn’t play in college despite being recruited by Michigan, Ohio State and Tennessee.

“I wanted to follow my heart instead of my brawn,” Smith said. “I didn’t want to go through all the punishment those guys go through.”

When Smith was on campus, the football team was in the midst of a 23-game losing streak. Smith remembers being at the game when NIU defeated Central Michigan to break the streak in 1998.

Today, the NIU football team is ranked No. 12, which shocked Smith.

“They’re No. 12!” Smith said. “I knew they beat Alabama and Maryland, but No. 12, wow.”

Coming to DeKalb to see the Huskies play is something Smith would like to do, but, he said, now is too busy of a time. However, if the Huskies were to make a bowl game, he said he and some of his NIU buddies definitely will be there.

“I’ve heard of the show, but I’ve never watched it,” NIU football coach Joe Novak said. “But is that so? Wow, how’d that happen?”

In episode one of “Playmakers,” Smith’s character reveals he is mentally and emotionally stressed by events that have taken place in his life.

Viewers find out that Olczyk’s brother died on the field from overexertion in the heat.

“I like his character, he’s the one I’m most intrigued about,” Stern said. “I like the actual emotion he displays, that often times as the public, we don’t think they (athletes) have.”

NIU receiver P.J. Fleck, like Stern, also likes Smith’s character and certain aspects of the show.

“I like his toughness,” Fleck said. “It also shows that he’s got problems off the field. He’s got some things that he’s thought about in the past, and that’s with all of us too. Football is just like life, you’ve got problems, you deal with it and you move on. He makes sure he separates football from life, and that’s what you have to do.”

A few months ago, Smith was out of shape after breaking up with a long-time girlfriend. He said he wanted and needed to do something about his appearance and began working out.

“I lost 45 pounds in three months. I went to an audition for “Playmakers” and they told me I was too skinny,” Smith said. “So I told them to give me a week and I kept working out and taking protein drinks. I gained 15 pounds in a week-and-a-half and I was working out nine hours a day. I went back in, shaved my head, grew a goatee and they liked it.”

Smith said he and Olczyk have a lot of similarities. He said they both are the strong, silent type. But Smith wouldn’t take his temper as far as Olczyk does because of lawsuits and jail time.

“Playmakers” has received good ratings this season, Smith said, but with the Cubs’ playoff games, ratings recently have been down a little.

The first season of “Playmakers” finished shooting Oct. 7. Another season of “Playmakers” has been discussed, but isn’t definite as of now, Smith said.

“If I were guessing, I’d say we’d have a season two,” Smith said. “I’d be back. I have a lot of fun doing it, and I think we all do.”