Republished from the Jefferson City News Tribune

Justin Smith’s return to the Missouri Tigers was not long-lived.

The former Jefferson City High School and NFL standout is no longer working with the Missouri football team, the university confirmed Tuesday.

Smith was brought on as a part-time weight room assistant in August. Missouri’s athletics department said he left the team earlier in the season.

“He was busier than he thought he’d be when he started with us,” media relations director Chad Moller told the News Tribune. “(We’re) hoping he’ll be able to join back at some point down the road.”

Moller said Smith was working a volunteer position. An open-records request made by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in August said Smith was making $1,200 per month.

Smith retired in May after a 14-year career in the NFL as a defensive end. He was drafted fourth overall by Cincinnati in 2001 and played seven seasons with the Bengals before playing seven more with the San Francisco 49ers. Smith made five Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro in 2011.

Smith graduated from Jefferson City in 1998, coming off a senior year in which he recorded 124 tackles and 15 sacks as the Jays won their 10th state title. He was an all-state player twice with the Jays.

With the Tigers, Smith earned first-team defensive All-American honors as a junior. His 11 sacks that season were a school record at the time. He also had 24 tackles for loss, still a school record.

Original: http://www.newstribune.com/news/2015/oct/27/justin-smith-no-longer-working-missouri/