Unlike some college football players, Sawyer Smith looked beyond his playing days when he chose to transfer to Kentucky this summer.

The former Troy quarterback, who recently graduated and enrolled at Kentucky in a master’s program, looked to his career choice when he decided on the Wildcats.

“I kinda want to be a football coach one day and this kind of gives me more connections so I kinda made a career choice,” Smith said, according to Cats Pause. “Being here at Kentucky is not a bad place to be. The football program is on the up and up. We’re going to be good this year. I can tell by the fire in the guys. The leaders are enthusiastic and intense … I had plenty of opportunities, but it was just felt right, it felt good and the place to be. I like all the coaches here. I had opportunities to pretty much do whatever I wanted, but this is one of the best opportunities I had.”

The Kentucky coaching staff likes Smith’s accuracy and ability to throw run-pass option plays. He was the MVP of the Dollar General Bowl after he completed 31-of-44 passes for 320 yards and four touchdowns.

Smith has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

The Cantonment, Florida native played in all 13 games last season for Troy, and started the final seven games for coach Neal Brown, a former Kentucky wide receiver and offensive coordinator. Smith went 5-2 as the starter, completing 144-of-229 passes for 1,669 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also rushed for 191 yards and a score.

The 6-foot-3, 219-pounder has a degree in social science from Troy and will work on a master’s degree in sport leadership at UK.