Smith's diet would make Dr. Atkins cringe. He has been told to eat foods with as many carbohydrates as possible, which for him means a lot of Kraft macaroni and cheese and $5 pizzas from Little Caesars.

After grunting through a workout of medicine ball throws and stretches with oversize elastic bands, Smith still weighs 203.3 pounds. So he gulps water, then two vanilla protein shakes. He steps on the scale three minutes later and the number reads 205. He smiles in relief.

"Keeping on weight is more stressful than anything else in my life," he said. "If I came in today at 207, they'd want me at 210."

Living Like a Freshman

After living in the university dorms for two years, Smith moved off campus.

From the box of pizza with one stale slice left to the empty case of Ramen noodles, Smith's house has all the trappings of the classic college bachelor pad.

His home life is as disheveled as his lives as a student and football player are successful. The student with a 3.79 grade point average and the field maestro with a 21-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio apologizes profusely as he walks through his messy house.

"I'd like to say this is a sign of genius," he said.

There is a sign taped on the kitchen wall pleading with Smith to turn off the iron. After it was left on one day, one of his roommates, Matt Kovacevich, Utah's punter, was burned.

Smith said he had lost at least five cellphones, and it was not until recently that his parents let him upgrade to a "big kid's phone," one of higher quality.