Facing a frightening amount of uncertainty at quarterback prior to the 2002 season, the Missouri Tigers staged an audition that eventually would yield one of college football's most dynamic players.

Hand-picked by head coach Gary Pinkel, Brad Smith, a wiry, boyish unknown from Youngstown, Ohio, earned the job out of camp in August, and it wouldn't take long for the redshirt freshman to justify his coach's decision. In his first career game, Smith slithered and slashed his way through the Illinois defense, accounting for 290 total yards and a score to lead the Tigers to a 33-20 win in the first installment of the Arch Rivalry in St. Louis.