For the better part of the last three seasons, Devin Smith’s job was simple. Get open.
This fall, he’ll be responsible for making sure everyone else does.
After leading Adelanto in receiving a season ago with 16 catches for 235 yards and two touchdowns, Smith is making the move to quarterback as the Saints look for more consistency on offense.
It’s a transition that didn’t happen overnight.
Instead, it has been months of studying the playbook, building chemistry with teammates and learning the responsibilities that come with becoming the face of the offense.
“You know, going to the gym every day. No days off,” Smith said. “Going to the field, getting work with my receivers, getting the chemistry right and just learning the playbook better.”
The move asks Smith to do much more than throw footballs.
He’s expected to recognize defenses before the snap, make adjustments at the line of scrimmage and serve as another coach on the field.
Head coach Nate Stokes believes Smith is ready for all of it.
“The growth from his sophomore year till now, just mentally how he approaches life and how he approaches the game, there’s a lot of growth there,” Stokes said.
For Stokes, the biggest factor wasn’t arm strength or athletic ability.
It’s the preparation.
“He knows our offense and our scheme more than anyone,” Stokes said. “He’s put in as much time as coaches. We’re talking about watching film of ourselves, film of our opponents and just understanding the game.”
That commitment has turned Smith into something every coach wants behind center.
“When we tell him something, he’s pretty much us on the field,” Stokes said. “It’s like, ‘Hey, this is what our idea is.’ He gets it. He can make adjustments. He’s an extension of us on the field.”
Smith admits the learning curve has been real.
“It’s been a little bit challenging,” he said.
But having spent four years at Adelanto and three seasons playing under Stokes has made the transition smoother.
“For me being at Adelanto all four years, with Coach Stokes for three years, it’s getting easier,” Smith said.
The familiarity also helps as Adelanto simplifies its offense this season.
Rather than adding more plays, the Saints have focused on mastering a smaller package, allowing players to react instead of think.
For a first-year starting quarterback on varsity, that approach should make the transition easier while allowing Smith to play faster.
He believes his previous experience as a receiver could also become an advantage. Having spent years running routes, Smith understands where receivers expect the football and the timing required to get it there.
Now he’s spending every workout strengthening those connections from the opposite side of the exchange.
For Smith, this position change isn’t about individual numbers. It’s about changing the direction of a program coming off consecutive losing seasons.
“We have the discipline. We’re ready,” Smith said. “We’re ready for a new season, trying to get rid of the past and build a better future.”
His confidence doesn’t stop there.
“We’re going to be coming different,” Smith said. “We are coming for it all.”
Whether the Saints make a jump in the standings remains to be seen. But Adelanto believes it has the right person taking the snaps when the season begins.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Receiver to quarterback: Devin Smith embraces his new role for Adelanto
Reporting by Jose Quintero, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jose Quintero, Victorville Daily Press | USA TODAY Network
