Looking around Michigan State’s campus, it’s easy to see the two players Spartans football fans expect to shoulder the load of the 2002 season. Images of junior quarterback Jeff Smoker and junior wide receiver Charles Rogers are almost unavoidable in East Lansing — from the cover of the team’s media guide, posters and billboards to the giant illustration of the duo that adorns the south side of Spartan Stadium.
“You can’t help but look at it and pull into the parking lot once in a while,” Smoker said. “When me and Chuck are driving down the street, we might take a left in there and say, ‘Hey what do you think?'”
Smoker entered his third season with higher expectations than ever, due to a 2001 season when he and Rogers established themselves as one of the premier QB-receiver combos in the country.
After two seasons of battling with backup Ryan Van Dyke, Smoker is now the undisputed No. 1 on an offense that led the Big Ten in passing and total yards last year and returns eight starters.
Smoker had mediocre performances in his first three games last season, but went 14-for-20 and threw for two scores in a win over Iowa. He then threw at least two touchdown passes in each of his remaining seven games.
A shoulder injury forced Smoker to miss a matchup with Purdue, but he returned and completed more than 70 percent of his passes in the last three games.
Smoker topped off the year by outgunning No. 1 draft pick David Carr in a 44-35 win over Fresno State in the Silicon Valley Classic, completing 22 of 32 passes for 376 yards and three touchdowns. He finished the season with a 162.8 quarterback rating — sixth in the nation — and a school-record 21 touchdowns.
Pairing with Rogers hasn’t hurt Smoker’s stats.
“We have a great relationship, and I think it shows on the field,” Smoker said. “We understand each other. We talk about things on the field, and we talk about things off the field as well. Overall, we’re great friends, and that makes it easier on the field and easier to critique each other when necessary.”
Smoker came to Michigan State in 2000 and was forced into action immediately. The untested freshman played well at times but battled for playing time with Van Dyke as the Spartans finished a disappointing 5-6.
“There’s some people and some athletes at some positions that can come in and play early, but I don’t think it’s good for a true freshman to play his first year at quarterback,” Smoker said. “It was a rough year with the transition to college, and college football and life in general.”
His two years in the program have allowed Smoker to improve his game, both physically and mentally.
“I’ve noticed that he’s a lot more confident passer than last year,” senior receiver B.J. Lovett said. “From playing with Jeff last year and the film I’ve seen of his freshman year, I’d say he’s definitely a lot more confident now.”
Lovett said Smoker has assumed a more vocal role in leading the team this season after back-to-back losses dropped the Spartans to 2-2 and out of the Top 25.
“He’s one of the captains, and when something needs to be said he’ll say it, especially with what we’re going through now,” Lovett said.
Smoker now has to lead an offense without an established running game. The loss of tailback T.J. Duckett to the Atlanta Falcons left a gap in the Michigan State offense that converted fullback Dawan Moss and others will try to fill.
The Spartans began the season with easy victories over Eastern Michigan and Rice, but were upset 46-22 by unranked California.
In the next game, against Notre Dame, Smoker found Rogers in the back of the end zone for a spectacular touchdown that put Michigan State up. But the Fighting Irish responded with a 60-yard touchdown pass to Arnaz Battle with 1:15 remaining to seal the 21-17 victory.
Smoker was pressured heavily in the first half and threw two interceptions. In both losses the Spartans have struggled to get their offense on track before halftime.
“Jeff’s numbers are pretty good, but I’m sure he would like to have those wins rather than the numbers,” head coach Bobby Williams said. “He’s played well, I know he’s had some struggles with high throws and throws behind, that type of thing. He’s had some balls dropped. But he’s steadily improving. He had a very good second half of the Notre Dame game, and he’s only going to get better.”
Smoker and the Spartans begin the Big Ten schedule Saturday at home against Northwestern, and despite the disappointing losses this season, they now face a clean slate in their quest to bring a Big Ten title to East Lansing for the first time since 1990.
“We just have to regroup and realize we are starting the Big Ten season, which is a new season,” Smoker said. “As long as I’m behind center, I’m not going to let these guys pack it in. I’m not going to let that happen.”
