LAFAYETTE, La. &045; Halfway through his college career, it looked as if Stanley Smith might not even be on the team much longer.

But something happened &045; he grew up.

Smith, the middle linebacker for the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns and a former Ferriday Trojan, had gone to Lafayette to play big-time college football in his home state. But at first, he simply didn’t show the commitment to be a success.

&uot;The big thing about Stanley, a couple years ago he was on the bubble, both academically and because of injuries. He just wasn’t committed,&uot; Brent Pry, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, said. &uot;But he made an about face and we never had another problem with him. He’s matured into a quality Division 1 player.&uot;

Even in his high school days at Ferriday, it was obvious Smith had the talent to play big-time college football at a very high level. At 6-1, 240 pounds, he had the size and strength to be a good linebacker.

But head coach Rickey Bustle, who took over the program three years, ago, also had doubts about his middle linebacker when he arrived on campus. Bustle was up to the challenge of helping one of his best defensive players mature.

&uot;At first, he impressed us the wrong way. We had to get on him, but he’s got it in him. We just had to get him to believe. We punished him, we talked to him, we counseled him, and then a little light came on,&uot; Bustle said.

Smith had realized things would have to change if he wanted to be the player he thought he could be. If he worked hard on and off the field, he could succeed at Louisiana-Lafayette and in his post-college life. If not, he might have ended up back home in Ferriday without a college degree or a shot at the NFL.

&uot;It was a turning point in my life,&uot; Smith said. &uot;I could either end up back in Ferriday or I could continue to strive for what I wanted for myself as a player and a person.&uot;

Instead of leaving the team and dropping out of school, Smith rededicated himself to both his academic work and his play on the field. After showing promise early in two injury-marred years to begin his career, Smith has become a team captain and the heart of the Cajun defense.

This season he’s had even more opportunity to show what he’s made of. When he broke his hand during the New Mexico State game and missed the second half, the team’s medical personnel recommended he sit out a week of practice and one game. Smith wasn’t having any of it.

&uot;I didn’t even want to come out (of the game) in the second half, but they made me,&uot; Smith said. &uot;I couldn’t miss a game.&uot;

He suited up for practice midway through the week with his hand heavily bound in a cast and played Saturday against Idaho State. Even with one hand, he got six tackles and an important sack.

Little things like a broken hand aren’t going to stop him.

This season, Smith is second on the team with 57 tackles through seven games. But more importantly, he’s become the leader of the defense.

&uot;His best asset is his insight. He’s a very smart middle linebacker,&uot; Pry said. &uot;He’s where you need him to be, but he also knows where everyone else is supposed to be and makes sure they are there.&uot;

In the classroom, Smith has also turned things around, going from a concern for his coaches to a dependable student who is on track to graduate, despite the time constraints practice and games have put on his class schedule and the lack of a redshirt year. Provided an NFL career doesn’t postpone his classroom studies, Smith will graduate sometime next year. After this semester, he will have only 20 hours remaining toward his degree.

&uot;He’s grown up a lot. We had to stay on him about academics. It took a year, but he matured and took it to another level,&uot; Bustle said.

Smith has four games remaining in his collegiate career and he says the team still has a chance to do some good things despite a 3-4 record. After the season, he will continue working out in hopes of making an NFL roster next year.

If the NFL doesn’t work out (and Pry, for one, thinks it might) Smith said he will finish his degree and then perhaps begin coaching football. Whatever he does, he’ll know one thing: good things happen when you do your best.