Smith, 6-foot-1, 203 pounds, played inside linebacker along side Pitt-bound Greg Webster registering 96 tackles, eight sacks and one interception and was a second-team All-Quad East selection. But at Akron, Smith will be required to play strong safety.

"Derron is an aggressive player and has natural instincts and feel for the game and he's a hitter," Novak said.

"It was always fun to watch he and Webster because we had such a great defensive front that they were able to roam from sideline to sideline and make a lot of tackles."

To make the transition easier, Smith already has in mind what changes he wants to make.

"I'll need to get a little bigger. I want to be around 220 pounds," Smith said.

"I'll also have to work on my speed."

Novak feels that his speed is what makes him an attractive fit.

"Derron's biggest attributes are his speed and quickness," Novak said.

Smith currently runs a 4.55, but will have an opportunity to get bigger and improve his speed as he will redshirt this fall. He will start his four years of eligibility in 2007.

"It's good for me to redshirt," Smith said. "I can workout, get stronger and learn Akron's system."

Other than Akron -- Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Morgan State were looking at Smith. But in the end, Smith felt like he belonged at Akron.

"It fit me and felt like home," Smith said."Akron has good players and good coaches."

The university really got Smith's attention when he went for a visit and it was a place he could see himself enjoying over the next five years.

"It's really a football town and the football players are treated like royalty," Smith said."But I don't get big headed -- I'll stay humble."

Akron college team also runs a defensive system similar to Woodland Hills except its a 3-4 (three linemen, four linebackers) rather than a 4-4 (four linemen, four linebackers), but the Zips' 3-4 defense morphs into a 4-4 because Smith would become the eighth man in the box.

Although the defenses are similar, Smith acknowledges that switching positions will be challenging.