With one glance at Leyton Smithson, you see the two worlds he juggles, a six-foot-one wide receiver with countless tattoos and creative design on his tee shirt. If you ask about the tattoos, he will tell you they are inspired by famous designers Sailor Jerry and Bert Grimm. This is just one of the art forms the Wazzu senior expresses.
 
During the early mornings of spring ball, Smithson is there with the team. After practice, he goes to classes, then he meets back with his team for meetings, but after that he steers away from his teammates. 

"As soon as meetings get out most people are going home but I'm going back to the art building to work on some ceramics or some screen printing," Smithson said. 

For the Bellingham native, the sharp contrast between art and football has always been a part of his life. He played for his local boys and girls club growing up and has loved the sport since. For art, his father was a photographer and growing up in a household full of his photos drew him to photography. 

"I grew up in an artistic household, my dad snuck into Cuba during the travel ban and did a photo series there, seeing those images up in my house really stuck in my mind," Smithson said. 
His love for art did not stop at just photography, but he also grew toward music. 

"I have always really loved punk rock and alternative rock and the sort of ethos that goes along with it just really prodding yourself on authenticity and a kind of no frill sort of delivery that's more about the raw emotion and a technical mastery over your medium," Smithson said. 

Smithson played football all through primary school and after a senior season which saw him record 1531 all-purpose yards and 20 touchdowns for Squalicum High School, Smithson was unsure about his future at a collegiate level. 

"Senior year I had no legitimate offers. When Washington State came knocking, I did not hesitate," Smithson said. 

Since arriving on the Palouse, Smithson has studied fine arts. When he enrolled in school his advisor told him he was the first football player she had seen go through the School of Fine Arts. Although the two worlds seem so distant on the surface, he has found an overlap as both are his driving passions. 

"I think there's aspects of both that overlap," Smithson said. "Mastering your craft and the hard work that both require. I think that transfers over a little bit but it's definitely two separate headspaces I have to be in." 

Even if his teammates brush off his punk rock suggestion, Smithson has found a connection with the team regardless of their different interests. 

"That's one of the biggest reasons I love Washington State is that we got a group of guys that are so accepting and really open to different personalities," Smithson said. "I might not carry myself as the macho hyper aggressive sort of dude, but they still know I will go out on the field and give them my all."