PASADENA, Calif. — Akili Smith may be one of the most notorious draft busts in NFL history, but he still used his experience to his advantage and has managed to carve out a career in the sport.

While most remember Smith for being a football player, many forget that baseball was the first sport he displayed his incredible skill set. He got drafted in the seventh round of the 1993 MLB Draft, and he spent three years playing baseball before pursuing a career in football.

There was a ton of hype surrounding Smith when he entered the 1999 NFL Draft after a standout senior season at The University of Oregon. The Cincinnati Bengals thought he had the traits to be their franchise quarterback when they selected him with the third overall pick in 1999.

Unfortunately, his career did not go as planned, as he only spent four years in Cincinnati and was out of the league by 2005. He achieved modest success with the Calgary Stampeders in the CFL later in his career before attempting to find his niche on the sidelines.

Smith fell out of the public eye when his playing days were behind him. Many are unaware that he immediately began his coaching career after retiring, with his first stint being with Grossmont College, where he was the football team’s quarterback coach.

The former college football star continued to coach on the West Coast for the past decade, including stops with The University of California and St. Augustine High School. He is currently the offensive coordinator for the Maranatha High School football team in Pasadena, California.

His unique career path saw him experience hardships that would prepare him well for a career in coaching. He also has advanced knowledge about what it takes for a quarterback to succeed, and has specialized in working with the position in his post-football career.

He may not have reached his massive potential during his career, but he hopes to aid similar athletes in avoiding the pitfalls that he suffered. The team struggled to compete on their way to a 1-7 record during the 2021 season, but there is arguably no one more prepared to teach them how to get back up after getting knocked down than Smith.

It will be interesting to see how far the former draft bust can climb in his coaching career, as he has already shown more longevity in that field than he did during his playing days.

This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.