Central Arkansas' Wynrick Smothers In Charge Entering Sam Houston State Rematch

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Central Arkansas' Wynrick Smothers In Charge Entering Sam Houston State Rematch

by Lee Hogan on Thursday, Sep. 20, 2012 3:00 pm

So far this year Wynrick Smothers appears to have comfortably replaced departed All-American quarterback Nathan Dick at UCA. (Photo by Jimmy Jones)

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Wynrick Smothers had many questions to answer entering the 2012 season as UCA’s starting quarterback.

Many wondered if Smothers might be able to pick up where Nathan Dick, now graduated, left off. Dick threw for school records of 3,275 yards and 32 touchdowns in 2011, and led the team to its first Football Championship Subdivision playoff appearance.

On a team that returned 15 starters from a 9-4 season, replacing an All-American quarterback was one of the bigger concerns heading into September.

“Big shoes to fill, I’ll tell you that,” Smothers said at UCA’s preseason media day.

But Smothers wasn’t backing down from the challenge.

“It’s just the fact in me coming out here and actually doing it," he said. "There’s no doubt in my mind at all. I’m confident in my abilities, I know the playbook, I know the receivers, I know what everybody’s suppose to do. It’s just a matter of doing it. Everybody knows actions speak louder than words.”

Three games into the season, Smothers’ actions are deafening.

His 10 passing touchdowns are tops in the Southland Conference and rank third in all of FCS.

He is second in the Southland Conference and 15^th in the nation with 784 yards, averaging over 260 a game.

Smothers’ 179.19 passing efficiency is second in the nation and his completion percentage of 78 is No. 1.

Despite the success, the humble Smothers said his play “hasn’t been the best” and can get better.

“It’s been good enough to lead our team to two wins so far, but unfortunately one loss,” he said. “It can always be better, but it’s been pretty good so far.”