After Evan Smith’s final season at Idaho State in 2008, no NFL agents called. Nobody was fighting to represent the Bengals offensive lineman who started 44 games in his collegiate career.

As Smith, who at the time went by Evan Dietrich-Smith, remembers it now, he dialed up a few agents to drum up some interest. They told him to get lost.

Yet, here he was back in Pocatello for an Idaho State Football Team alumni golf scramble, deep into an NFL career that will hit year No. 8 when he lines up at center for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this fall.

“I found some guys that were local and they were really just kind of a startup group,” said Smith, referring to how he came across an agent. “I was one of like seven guys they had.

I pretty much just told them, if you get me into a camp I’ll do the rest.”

Why did an underweight (for the NFL) left tackle on a bad FCS team in the Big Sky Conference assume he could go pro? Keep in mind, there weren’t many folks from the league clamoring over themselves encouraging Smith to take the leap.

Smith believed, in part, he deserved a shot at the NFL because he compared his results in drills like the 40-yard dash, the bench press and 20-yard shuttle to that season’s elite offensive line draft prospects. He was in the top five in every category.

Plus, he had loads of practical knowledge from four years of experience at Idaho State where he was a four-time honorable mention Big Sky Conference honoree. Smith had faith in his own abilities when practically no one else did.

By marketing himself and finding the right agent, Smith garnered enough attention to land a spot on the Green Bay Packers for training camp. He’s found a way to stick in the league ever since. By 2011, Smith started three games. Then six in 2012, and 16 in 2013.

Smith signed a four-year deal reportedly worth $14.25 million in 2014 with Tampa Bay. Quite the accomplishment for a guy looked at as a fringe — at best — NFL prospect.

“It’s a crazy business. There are so many ways you can make it in and out of the league,” Smith said. “I’m just grateful I’ve made it this far. I hope I can keep playing until my body tells me that I can’t.”

Smith and Tampa Bay went 2-14 in 2014, a far departure from what he had grown accustomed to with the Packers. Green Bay had made the playoffs for five straight seasons.

If anything, last season hearkened back to Smith’s time at Idaho State. The Bengals went 11-34 with Smith on campus, including 1-11 his senior season — the most difficult of Smith’s career, he said.

But he’s nothing if not optimistic about Tampa Bay’s future prospects. The Buccaneers used the overall No. 1 draft pick on Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston and hired Pocatello native and fellow Idaho State alum Dirk Koetter to direct the offense.

Smith is helping foster a culture with the Bucs that mirrors what he had at the Packers. It’s not just setting expectations that they’ll be good. No, it’s about demanding it.

“Last year was very hard but the fact that we were in so many games kind of gives you, ‘OK, all right, if we were better at doing a lot of the little things maybe we could have been a different team,’” Smith said. “This year, we’re going to be better at doing a lot of the little things and we’re going to be a way better team.”