Wide receiver Tim Smith lost only four games at Oscar Smith High School. What a difference a year makes.
"I was so used to my mother washing clothes," Smith said. "I have to get out and wash my clothes, make sure I do this, make sure I do that."
Aside from this universally transformative experience, Smith's transition to college life has gone relatively smoothly, especially considering his roommate is fellow true freshman and high school teammate Perry Jones. Both players came to Virginia with the mentality that they would be able to contribute immediately.
"I wanted to get in and play early and be as positive effect for the team as I could be," Smith said. "I mean I came here for a reason - to get out here and make plays for this team."
Indeed, three games into his collegiate career, the wide receiver has made significant contributions. He leads the team with two touchdown receptions, including Virginia's longest play of the year - a 69-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jameel Sewell in the opening minutes against Southern Mississippi.
Smith is used to making big plays but he certainly is not accustomed to losing.
"We came from a great high school and we won a lot of games," Smith said. "But ... you gotta know how to bounce back from losses, 'cause there are gonna be tough losses in college. It's a whole different level. You just gotta keep level-headed and stay focused."
Though he may not have anticipated a three-game losing streak to begin his career at Virginia, Smith did realize the higher level of competition could potentially counteract his heralded speed.
"On the football field, you're not faster than everybody," Smith said. "Everybody's the same speed, and it's more of a technique game ... Nobody's gonna lay down."
Virginia coach Al Groh acknowledged the speed element was Smith's best skill coming out of high school and - though the freshman is now playing against bigger, faster players - Groh still said Smith has improved the Cavaliers' depth at the position.
"Now [Smith] is playing against lots of players who were recruited on the same basis," Groh said. "But when we look at it - it's still a case of at that position - he's matching up better with the other teams' speed than what has been the case in the past."
By all accounts, Smith used his quickness to create big plays, as demonstrated by the aforementioned 69-yard burst down the sideline against Southern Miss to open up a 7-0 lead for the Cavaliers.
"I was gonna be the first option but I didn't know it was designed for me or that I was even in [the game]," Smith said. "At the time, I was just on the sideline. Coach said, 'Tim, come here, run this.' So I was just like, 'A'ight.'"
Offensive coordinator Gregg Brandon's confidence to turn to Smith for Virginia's first strike downfield against the Golden Eagles may have stemmed from the receiver's 26-yard dash down the left sideline which resulted in his first catch and touchdown of the season against Texas Christian the previous week. The play was crucial in many aspects: in addition to showing the coaching staff his ability to break away from defensive backs, the play ignited Smith's own confidence, and quite possibly secured the starting quarterback position for Sewell. This last implication paid dividends against Southern Miss.
"When we had three different quarterbacks, it was three different types of quarterback," Smith said. "Nobody throws the same way, nobody's similar."
With Sewell locked into the starting position, the Cavaliers know that they have a single source to whom they may turn.
"Just to know you have one stable quarterback and one person you can go to if you have some miscommunication, you know you'll be on the same page," Smith said.
Perhaps personally for Smith, the touchdown against TCU vindicated his confident attitude heading into the season.
"Coming into college, people were doubting me, 'Oh you're not gonna be able to do the same thing you do in high school in college,' and all this and that," Smith said. "When I caught that first touchdown, I was just sending a message that I still can score and put points on the board."
For a player who maintains that his only agenda is simply to be "ready when his number is called," he has certainly turned heads for a Virginia squad that has turned away most fans. Two touchdowns have Tim Smith riding high in his first year at Virginia.
That, and mastering laundry.
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