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Utah punt returner Shaky Smithson streaks down the sidelines, pulls up short to throw in a high step, then continues eating up more yardage in yet another long punt return.

The move is a tribute to the player he idolized as a child, all-pro phenom Deion Sanders.

"I got it from him and I've been working on it since I was little," Smithson said.

Such flash makes no-nonsense Utah coach Kyle Whittingham grimace at the memory.

"We'd like to see the freelancing an exception rather than the rule," said Whittingham, noting Smithson has "his own style," of doing things.

However, there is no denying that Smithson is producing the substance to go with the style, thanks to his punt returns in the last two games.

Smithson, who leads the MWC and ranks fourth nationally by averaging 26.6 yards a punt return, scored on a 77-yard return against UNLV followed by a 73-yard return against New Mexico.

He needs just one more touchdown to tie the record held by Steve Smith, who returned three in 1999.

While tying the school record would be fun, Smithson said it isn't a personal priority for him.

"I just take one game at a time, one punt at a time," he said. "I just take whatever the punt team gives me."

So far, the teams have been giving him plenty with which to work. He has electrified his team so much in the past two games that his gaffes against Pitt, when he fumbled twice, now seem like distant memories.

Utah coaches replaced him in that game because they could tell he was rattled, but they didn't give up on him and he has rewarded the Utes with big returns and big momentum boosts.

"That one he ran back, he didn't have any blocks," quarterback Jordan Wynn said of Smithson's return against the Lobos. "He just went through five guys and was gone. It's huge for us because if he can get us to midfield or closer, we only have to go 20 yards and we are in range for Joe [Phillips]. It's a huge help for the offense."

Smithson returned punts in the last three games of the 2009 season, averaging 9.5 yards a return.

The Utes wanted to use him again this year because he showed such promise at the position, one that coach Kyle Whittingham considers a priority spot.

"If you can get better field position, that is the name of the game," he said. "He is a good weapon and sets up the offense on short fields."

Whittingham added the returner's role "is not a place for cowards."

But feeling vulnerable while tracking a punt isn't something Smithson is susceptible to. He credited his background, growing up in a rough and tumble area of Baltimore, for making him brave. His father was incarcerated, his parents divorced and he not only had to escape the violence in his neighborhood but was responsible for his little brother Anthony's safety as well. He remains his brother's legal guardian.

After dodging so many traps in his childhood, shaking off a defender or two is nothing to him.

"I went through a lot of things [in Baltimore] and that helped prepared me a lot and made me fearless," he said of his childhood. "There are no scary parts with punts, it's more reactions. You have to have a feel for the ball when it is in the air."

Smithson's muffed punt in the opener might have caused doubts in his abilities at first, but he has put those to ease with his recent performances.

Now just three games into the season, Smithson is well on pace to break Steve Smith's school record of 495 punt return yards he set in 1999.

The mark isn't what matters to him, he said.

"I don't care if I get 120 yards or 80 yards," he said of his punt return yardage. "If my 80 yards helps my team that is what I want. I just want to get a 'W' on the board."

Of course, Smithson will have a high step or two ready just in case.

lwodraska@sltrib.com Twitter: @sltributes, @lyawodraska —

Records in sight

Shaky Smithson is averaging 26.6 per punt return. Here are three school records he could break this season:

Punt return total yards (season)

495 • Steve Smith (1999)

426 • Derrek Richards (2007)

389 • Erroll Tucker (1985)

365 • Steve Smith (2000)

356 • Frank Nelson (1949)

Punt return average yards (season)

24.31 • Erroll Tucker (1985)

23.38 • Steve Odom (1973)

17.43 • Steve Odom (1972)

17.10 • Steve Smith (1999)

15.93 • Louis Thomas (1968)

Punt return touchdowns (season)

3 • Steve Smith (1999)

2 • Shaky Smithson (2010), Steve Odom (1972 and 1973), Erroll Tucker (1985) —

San Jose State at No. 13 Utah

P Saturday, 6 p.m.

No TV