Andre Smith's adventurous offseason took another unexpected turn Tuesday. This time, the Outland Trophy winner and Cincinnati Bengals' first-round draft pick got back on track relatively soon. | NFL page

Scheduled to help with the Midwest Lineman's Camp at Illinois Wesleyan, the No. 6 overall pick out of Alabama took the long route to Bloomington. Ultimately, his search led him to a gas station.

"I said, 'How far is Bloomington?'" said Smith, a 6-foot-4, 340-pound offensive tackle. "They said, 'Which Bloomington?' I went, 'Ahhh, don't tell me that.'"

It turns out Smith was closer to Bloomington, Ind., than our Bloomington. Thus, he arrived at IWU at 4:30 p.m., just as the second of Tuesday's three sessions wrapped up.

Camp co-directors Norm Eash, IWU's head football coach, and Paul Alexander, the Bengals' 16th-year offensive line coach, had sweated out Smith's arrival for two days amid 90-plus degree heat.

Camp began Monday morning and ends at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, so Smith will make a cameo appearance in comparison to fellow Bengals rookie lineman Jonathan Luigs.

Luigs, a fourth-round pick, is a two-time All-American from Arkansas who won the Rimington Trophy in 2007 as the nation's top center.

While Luigs was in the right Bloomington from the start, Smith had another glitch in a tumultuous offseason. He left the NFL Scouting Combine unannounced, had a sub-par Pro Day, switched agents prior to the draft and, after the draft, rehired his original agent.

All of that came after Smith was suspended from the Sugar Bowl for alleged improper contact with a sports agent. Alabama attorney general Troy King said earlier this month he found no probable cause that a violation occurred.

It was good news for a guy who could use all he can get. Yet, Smith said Tuesday he has "no regrets" in regard to the past seven months.

"It's over with, you know?" he said. "I've moved on.

"It hasn't been stressful. It's what you get out of it and what are you going to do to change the perception? That's what it has been for me."

Smith participated in Cincinnati's rookie minicamp, optional training activities (OTAs) and mandatory minicamp. He is eager to learn under Alexander, who he said "is going to be like my eyes and ears. He knows what to do in order to be successful, so I'm just going to listen to him."

Question is, how soon will they work together full-time? Smith has yet to sign a contract with training camp looming next month. A holdout would be a setback to the Bengals' hopes of shoring up their line.

There is far less turmoil surrounding the 6-4, 315-pound Luigs, a three-time Rimington finalist. The Little Rock native won as a junior after blocking for first-round picks Darren McFadden and Felix Jones.

"It's surreal. It really hasn't sunk in yet, even though it was two years ago," Luigs said.

"It (the trophy) is still back in Little Rock. It's on an end table in the living room. I'm sure my parents have had a good time showing it to friends who come over."

Like Smith, Luigs has not signed. He is leaving negotiations to his agent and the Bengals' front office.

His focus this week has been on giving instruction rather than receiving it.

"This is the first time I've had a whistle around my neck," he said. "I've learned a lot. It makes you appreciate what you do more. It helps you learn different techniques and areas you need to improve on."

Alexander has made it a tradition for Bengals rookies to work the camp. Every lineman to eventually play for him in Cincinnati has come to Bloomington as a rookie.

"There's something to breaking it down in your mind so clearly you can teach it, you can feel it better and perform it better," Alexander said.

He expects Luigs to "develop and have a good career," and called him "a natural" at working with young players.

"I've been fortunate to play football and be where I am now," Luigs said. "I don't take anything for granted."

Randy Kindred is at rkindred@pantagraph.com. The Kindred Blog: www.pantagraph.com/blogs