Wilson grad Tyler Smith transfers from Maryland to Elon

FROM KEITH GROLLER

According to a report on thetimesnews.com in North Carolina, former Wilson star quarterback Tyler Smith is transferring from the University of Maryland to Elon University.

Both schools involved in this transfer have new coaches.

Former Lehigh coach Pete Lembo had been at Elon for five seasons, but is now the head coach at Ball State.

Former UConn coach Randy Edsall is now in charge at Maryland.

Smith redshirted last year at Maryland and will have four years of eligibility left at Elon.

At Maryland, Smith would have likely been behind Danny O’Brien, who was the ACC's Rookie of the Year.

Smith, reportedly, didn't have a great spring and didn't receive a lot of playing time under Edsall and was unhappy about his situation.

According to thetimesnews.com, Smith didn't take long in making his decision on Elon, although Millersville and Delaware were also considered..

Bret Comp, Smith's high school coach at Wilson, said: "It didn’t take long. The kid fell in love with the place right away. He pulled the trigger on it pretty quickly.”

"Those were the only three out of his mouth,” Comp said of Elon, Delaware and Millersville. “But there was no need to pursue anything else. He was ecstatic about Elon.”

By going from the FBS level to the FCS level, Smith can play right away and does not have to sit out a season.

Smith compiled amazing numbers at Wilson. He finished his career with 8,035 passing yards and 87 TD passes. As a senior in 2009, he threw for 3,130 yards and 32 touchdowns.

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/