Santa Monica College Corsairs sophomore Wide-receiver Tariq Brown (5) makes a catch from the Quarterback in warm-ups right before their game with Antelope Valley College. (Jon Putman | The Corsair)

Former National Football League (NFL) wide receiver Steve Smith Sr., who is also an alumni of Santa Monica College (SMC), is eligible to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame (PFHOF) as soon as 2022.

Smith Sr., who played football at SMC from 1997 to 1999 before transferring to the University of Utah, was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of the 2001 NFL draft. He was a Panther for 13 years and set many team records, including most all-time receiving yards with 12,197, receiving touchdowns with 67, and total touchdowns with 75. Smith Sr. retired from the NFL on Jan. 2, 2017, and is entering his first year of PFHOF eligibility. He is included in the 122 nominees that the NFL has announced for the 2022 class of the PFHOF.

Retired players connected to pro football can be nominated by fans who write to the PFHOF, but a nominee must be retired for at least 5 years before they can be considered for selection. A selection committee will reduce the list of nominees to 25 semifinalists in November and then 15 finalists in January. During the time of next year's Super Bowl game, which is scheduled for Sunday Feb. 13, four to eight finalists will be selected to the 2022 class of the PFHOF to be ceremonially inducted in August.

Sophomore wide receiver Tariq Brown, who moved from Des Moines, Iowa in 2019 to play football for SMC, reflected on Smith Sr.'s NFL career and how SMC played a part in that. "It's very inspirational and motivational...he sat in the same classrooms we're sitting in and played on the same field we're playing on," said Brown. "I grew up watching him, he's a dog."

Santa Monica College Corsairs sophomore Wide-receiver Tariq Brown (5) flips over Antelope Valley defenders after trying to leap over them. (Jon Putman | The Corsair)

Some takeaways from Smith Sr. 's play style that Brown has observed and tried to replicate include playing fearlessly and passionately while always competing at the highest level when stepping on the football field.

"He's talked about very highly around campus," said Brown. "[He's] one of the best receivers of all time...top ten in my book."

Smith Sr. is knocking on the door of football immortality, but he wouldn't be the first SMC alum to be inducted into the PFHOF. Retired wide receiver Issac Bruce, who is fifth all time in NFL receiving yards with 15,208, is also an SMC alum and was part of the 2020 class inducted into the PFHOF.

Smith Sr. played 16 total seasons in the NFL and hauled in 1,031 catches for 14,731 yards, while scoring 89 total touchdowns in his career. He is currently number 8 all-time in total career receiving yards and is regarded as one of the greatest wide receivers to ever play in the NFL. Smith Sr. is guaranteed to be elected into the PFHOF, but knowing how soon is the question that remains.

Smith Sr.'s career stats can be found via the NFL's website.

SMC Alumni Nominated for Hall of Fame