Hawaii football: Smart looks to make heady plays in Mountain West

A breakout offensive game for Hawaii wide receiver Jared Smart included a couple of notable miscues.

The 6-foot junior transfer from Laney (Calif.) College is looking to build on one and eliminate the other heading into the Rainbow Warriors’ Mountain West opener at Nevada this weekend.

Smart had his most productive receiving game to as a Warrior to date against Central Arkansas last Saturday, with eight catches for 121 yards and a touchdown, helping UH improve to 3-1 on the season.

“It’s something I’ve always been working for. To play and finally ball out in front of everybody, feels good,” Smart said after practice on Tuesday.

Receiver Jared Smart (8 catches, 121 yards, TD, 2 punt return fumbles last week) talked about what #HawaiiFB can do to make its nonconference success translate in Saturday’s @MountainWest opener at Nevada. pic.twitter.com/tZ8emU6mhO

— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) September 26, 2019

On the other hand, in a new role as punt returner filling in for Melquise Stovall, Smart muffed two balls. One of the fumbles was lost to UCA at the UH 17 just before halftime. The Bears turned that into a field goal.

He knows he has to be better if he’s put in that situation again.

“It’s a big thing the coaches preach a lot about ball security. Gotta own the ball first,” Smart said. “Every day at practice, that’s a top thing we’re trying to do.

“Even on the road and since we’re in conference now, the turnovers we’ve been having, we definitely gotta cut it down or else we might not get out of the games we have.”

Smart is the son of Indiana Hoosiers legend and current New York Knicks assistant coach Keith Smart.

His dad, who would do basketball workouts with Jared and his older brother as they grew up, offers frequent feedback. Keith Smart visited UH practice during the preseason.

“No doubt, he’s done everything and more for more for me,” Jared Smart said. “He’s always checking in, giving me advice on everything. He’s definitely been a big (help).”

Smart’s game-by-game receiving numbers:
>> Arizona: 6 catches, 68 yards (long of 21)
>> Oregon State: 6 catches, 81 yards (long of 24)
>> at Washington: 6 catches, 54 yards (long of 13)
>> Central Arkansas: 8 catches, 121 yards (long of 22), 1 TD

Slotback Cedric Byrd II, one of Cole McDonald’s primary targets along with JoJo Ward, said there’s plenty of room to go around for receivers to make a play — or several.

“It just opens everybody up,” Byrd said of Smart having a big game. “(The defense) is aware we have more than two, three receivers. We have six, seven receivers that can really do great in this offense.”

Through four games, Smart likely leads the team in catches with a receiver draped all over him. It seems to happen at least once a game.

“It could be something that the team needed. Catch it in traffic, bring the ball down the field,” he said. “It’s just something I try to do.”

UH is 3-4 in Mountain West openers going into its eighth season as a football-only member. Of those, UH is 1-2 against Nevada (1-1 at home and 0-1 on the road). Saturday’s game at 4:30 p.m. HST will be televised on ESPN2.