MOSCOW, Idaho - Six years is a long time. Seven, University of Idaho tight end Luke Smith-Anderson says, would be too many. With that, Smith-Anderson announced on Tuesday his decision to pursue a professional football career.

"It's a hard decision in the fact that I know this program is on the rise," Smith-Anderson said. "We have a lot better chance to go to a bowl next year. That's what I've been wanting to do all this time, leave here with a ring.

"Sometimes you have to take the next step. That's what I feel like I need to do."

Coach Dennis Erickson said he understood Smith-Anderson's decision.

"He has to do what is right for him and his family," Erickson said.

Smith-Anderson's decision to declare for the draft ends a six-year odyssey that began with him playing in 2001 as a true freshman. He missed the next two seasons with knee injuries, one ACL then the other. He managed a full season in 2004 before rupturing his spleen during fall camp 2005. He had a scare in 2006 but damage to his PCL was minor and he was able to play in all but two games.

The spate of injuries led to not one or two but three more years of NCAA eligibility. Through it all, he's seen action under three head coaches and been taught by four position coaches.

"You have to buy into each philosophy that each coach has," he said. "I feel like I've done a good job of doing that."

He takes with him a couple extra years of Idaho memories.

"I'm going to miss the camaraderie. Before practice. Getting up early. Working out. Knowing we're all pretty much on the same page," he said. "Or after practice in the lockerroom. That's the funnest time."

To the underclassmen still in the program, he had these words.

"My advice would be to just really sell yourself out for this game," he said. "Let go of all the things that are going to hinder your ability to play football. That's what you were recruited to do. Even if you don't have the most athletic ability, you can make up for that in work ethic and competitiveness. It doesn't take any athletic ability to try hard every time."