Biggest NFL Draft busts in Oregon football history
By Sam Fariss
Akili Smith
Another quarterback who the Ducks hoped would be a great success in the NFL was Akili Smith. Before heading to Oregon, Smith dabbled in minor-league baseball and then headed to JUCO to start his collegiate football career.
Once the Ducks had Smith on their roster, he was in his third year of eligibility and came out firing. In his senior year, Smith played in 11 games and had 30 touchdowns. He threw for 3,307 yards at an average of 10.2 yards per pass.
His successful final year in college football helped cement the Ducks as a powerhouse program in the Pac-10.
Smith was drafted 3rd overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1999. His career could have been a precursor for Harrington’s.
Completing only 46.6 percent of his passes, Smith had 13 interceptions and only five touchdowns in the 22 games he played.
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