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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Utah quarterback Alex Smith is making himself available for the N-F-L draft a year early.
Smith's stock rose this season after guiding the 12-and-oh Utes to their best season since 1930. It culminated Saturday when Utah won the Fiesta Bowl -- becoming the first non-Bowl Championship Series team to crack and claim one of the elite bowls.
Smith has said he'd enter the N-F-L if he felt his draft status was good enough.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder has a strong arm, but may have to answer skeptics who question whether his thin build can stand up to the rigors of pro football.
Smith was Utah's first Heisman Trophy finalist. Before Saturday's win, he had completed two-thirds of his passes while throwing for 28 touchdowns and four interceptions. He capped the season by completing 29 of 37 passes for 328 yards and four touchdowns in the Fiesta Bowl.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
