By Stacey Troiano

He’s known as one of the most lethal offensive weapons in Division I-AA college football. Opposing defenses have it out for him. He leads the country in receiving yards per game. He’s caught the attention of NFL scouts. He’s Shaine Smith, Hofstra wide receiver.

Smith was born and raised in San Diego and played everything from football and basketball to soccer and hockey growing up.

He moved to his father’s house in Long Island City at age 17, and played football at Nassau Community College for two years. Smith had been recruited by big time programs such as Penn State, Michigan State, Auburn and West Virginia, but none worked out for him coming out of a junior college. A phone call from a former Hofstra offensive coordinator finally brought Smith to the Pride last season as a junior.

This year’s Hofstra squad is off to a 2-4 start with three of those losses by less than five points.

“We have so many players who can get the job done on both sides of the ball, but sometimes we just don’t play the way we’re capable of playing,” Smith said after Hofstra’s 10-6 loss to Delaware on Sunday. “When we’re consistent and doing things right, we can be unstoppable.”

Smith has certainly proved that to be true, tallying a staggering 686 receiving yards and five touchdowns in the first six games of his senior season. Opposing defenses have not made it easy, throwing double and at times even triple coverage at him, but Smith said as far as he’s concerned, that means someone else is open.

Smith’s goals for the rest of the season are as simple as staying on top of his game and continuing to be one of the best receivers in the conference and nation. He believes with the leadership of first-year head coach Dave Cohen, the Pride can finish the season strong.

Cohen has adapted well coming into a new team that had gotten so used to the previous coaching staff. Smith said Cohen has established great relationships with all of the players and gained their respect and trust immediately.

“He got to know each one of his players on a personal level. I really like him and I like what he’s doing with this team,” Smith said.

Smith’s teammates also appreciate the skill and offensive leadership he brings to the field.

“Shaine’s one of the best people I’ve ever known, and he’s the best receiver I’ve ever played with. He’s a great guy, a great player and has a great personality on and off the field,” said junior defensive end Tom Massey, who was also Smith’s teammate at Nassau.

Star wideouts are not a rarity at Hofstra. Marques Colston, a 2006 graduate of Hofstra, is now a starting receiver for the New Orleans Saints in his rookie season in the NFL. Smith said he learned a lot about understanding and reacting to defenses in the one year that he played alongside Colston, and he says he hopes for a similar future for himself.

“I would obviously love to be in the NFL, but we’ll see what happens,” he said. “I can’t worry about all that right now. It will happen when it happens.”

For being such a well-known player on and off campus, Smith remains humble in what he does and keeps focused on his goals.

“I look at everything as a learning experience. I just try to learn from other people and make myself better,” Smith said. “I just want to do the things I’m capable of. It’s like growing up from when I was seven years old until now, I realize dreams are attainable.”