Akili Smith was a two year starter for the Oregon Ducks from 1997-’98.
In 1998, He completed 191 of 325 passes for 3,307 yards and 30 TDs.
That season he led the PAC-10 in completion percentage (58.8), yards, TDs, Yards per attempt (10.2), yards per game (300.2) and Rating (170.4).
He’d declare for the 1999 draft and be the 3rd quarterback taken off the board with the 3rd overall pick, (behind Tim Couch and Donovan McNabb), by the Cincinnati Bengals.
He played four seasons for the Bengals from 1999-’02.
During his rookie season, he led the Bengals to an 18-17 win over the Browns, completing 25 of 42 passes for 221 yards and 2 TDs.
Dealing with a nagging toe injury, the Bengals opted to shut him down after week 8.
Akili returned for the 2000 campaign but struggled to find his footing as the starter and eventually was benched.
On the season, Smith finished 118 of 267 for 1253 yards and 3 TDs to 6 picks in 12 contests.
He saw action in two contests in 2001, but popped his hamstring in week 14 and didn’t return to action.
Released in 2003, he signed with the Packers but was unable to latch on with the team after camp.
After a more than a year off, Akili was allocated to the NFLE where he played for the Frankfurt Galaxy in 2005.
Smith completed 53 of 84 passes for 589 yards and 2 TDs to 2 interceptions, and ran for another TD as well.
Earned an audition with the Buccaneers but would be released before the preseason.
Joined the Calgary Stampeders in the CFL in 2006 but didn’t make the roster.
At last glance in 2025 was a high school football coach in California.
NOTES:
So WHY did the Bengals draft Akili knowing what they knew about his poor Wonderlic stats? Why did the Bengals draft Akili with Mike Ditka and the Saints attempting to trade everything in their draft to move up to 3 to select Ricky Williams? Why when both Tim Couch and Donovan McNabb just went off the board did the Bengals still bank on Akili?
Well, in 1998 Peyton Manning had just been drafted by the Colts out of Tennessee. Smith had an incredible breakout season by any regards for a quarterback in the 90s. He had an electric comeback against the Bruins where he just put the team on his shoulders and won the game, and his 1998 season was superior (dare I say) to Manning’s statistically, AND Smith could make teams pay with his running ability.
The Bengals franchise was obviously NOT the place he should’ve gone, and one wonders what would’ve happened if Culpepper or McNabb ended up at Riverfront and Smith somewhere else how that would’ve played out.
That being said not only did Smith hold out to start things off, he had a penchant for relying on his athleticism and not studying his playbook. We’ve seen this movie before, and it only ends in disaster.
Jon Kitna walked on to the Central Washington football team, where he settled in at QB.
During his senior season, Jon threw for 4,616 yards and 42 touchdowns.
Undrafted, he signed as a free agent with the Seattle Seahawks in 1996.
Intrigued by his skillset the Seahawks sent him overseas to play in the World League with the Barcelona Dragons in 1997.
With the Dragons, Kitna completed 171 of 317 attempts, for 2,448 yards and 22 passing TDs.
He also set the league record for quarterbacks with 334 rushing yards.
In World Bowl V, he put the Dragons on his shoulders and threw for a game record 401 yards and 2 TDs.
Returned to the Seahawks after the World League season where he honed his craft behind Warren Moon and John Friesz.
Became the Seahawks starter at QB in Week 13 of ’98.
Completed 270 of 495 passes for 3,346 yards and 23 touchdown passes leading the Seahawks to an AFC West Title in ’99.
Struggled in 2000, posting a 6-6 record, throwing 18 TDs to 19 picks.
Signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2001- beating out WLAF alum Scott Mitchell in camp.
Threw a franchise record 68 times in Week 16 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Led the league in passing attempts with 581.
Backed up Gus Frerotte to start the 2002 season, before going on to start the final 12 games of the season for the Bengals.
Again, Kitna stepped up throwing for 3,178 yards and 16 TDs.
With #1 pick Carson Palmer sitting in the wings, Jon was allowed to start and play every single down for the Bengals in 2003.
Threw for 3,591 yards and a career high 26 TDs.
As Palmer took over in 2004, Kitna was relegated to a backup role and saw spot duty through 2005, seeing action in 7 games, while starting 3.
Signed with the Detroit Lions in 2006.
Took every snap for the team in 2006, throwing for 4,204 yards, and 21 TDs on 372 of 596 passes- setting multiple team records.
His 372 completions led the league.
Had another 4k season passing in 2007 as he threw 18 TDs.
Injured during week 4 of 2008.
Traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 2009 to shore up the team’s QB room behind Tony Romo.
Started 9 contests in 2010 for Dallas, throwing for 2,365 yards and 16 TDs.
Injured in training camp due to a herniated disc, Kitna never was able to fully recover from the injury and was forced to retire after the 2011 season concluded.
Went into teaching and coaching at his High School in Washington.
Popped up again briefly as an emergency QB for the Cowboys in 2013, but didn’t see any action- donating the check to his High School Booster Club.
Worked his way through the High School ranks before briefly joining the San Diego Fleet of the AAF in 2018 for about 6 months as offensive coordinator.
Resigned to become QB Coach to Dak Prescott of the Cowboys in January of 2019.
Returned to the high school gridiron to coach in 2020.
ACCOLADES:
Pacific Northwest Hall of Fame 2014
Central Washington University Hall of Fame 2006
World Bowl V MVP
Offensive Player of the Week (13) 1998
Offensive Player of the Month (October) 1999
Offensive Player of the Week (16) 2001
NFL Comeback Player of the Year 2003
NOTES:
I really had to scramble to find cards of Jon. He’s always been at this crossroads of quarterbacking that’s interested me, being a mentor to so many players and also being a World League alum. He signs in very short spurts, so I rushed these out as soon as I could them.
INSCRIPTIONS:
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
-Galations 2:25
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
-Romans 5:8
A voice of one calling: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God
Octavious Bishop was a big, sturdy LT that played for the University of Texas from 1995-’98, paving the way for Ricky Williams.
Undrafted he spent time in the camps of the Raiders and Falcons.
Spent the 2000 season with the Amsterdam Admirals of the NFLE.
He’d appear in 8 games (starting 7) playing LOT and ROT.
In 2001, Octavious joined the Chicago Enforcers of the XFL.
Critically injured during week 2 against the Xtreme, Bishop’s playing career was over.
He later returned to UT to earn both his bachelors and masters.
Then he served on the Longhorns Staff as the Director of Student Leadership/ Personal Development.
As of this post he’s President & Founder of Eye Level Consulting LLC.
Doc Ock also is an Adjunct Professor of Psychology with Austin Community College.
NOTES:
Doc Ock became a part of history when he became involved in the greatest XFL game nobody saw.
Week 2 was another make it or break it week for the league and Chicago and the Xtreme were playing in primetime before SNL on NBC. As the teams battled, the power went out causing the game to be delayed significantly. Then when the game came back on, Octavious was injured, causing the game to be delayed again for another 15 minutes. Finally, after the game continued, the Xtreme forced double OT, which pushed SNL’s start time well past midnight on the East Coast, rankling executives feathers.
Octavious never had a card made of him. (He might be a great Upper Deck UT HACK card candidate.) He was happy enough to sign this card for me. A low key, deep cut win for me it was nice to get him on something, even if the Neighborhood Bowling Event was a complete and utter bust.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
