The spotlight has always been on Tahj Mowry.

Whether it's being a child-star actor playing the lead role in a television show or a standout high school football player in Southern California, Mowry is used to having all eyes focused on him.

His Q rating may have dropped now that he's put acting on the back burner and is fully committed to his football career. Right now, he's just another face under a helmet at Savannah State University, where he is seeing some duty at tailback during his freshman year. But when you come from his background it's hard to be anonymous.

"I'm used to it,'' Mowry said. "Everyone knew I was coming to school here. Once they saw me play, they forgot all about the acting thing. I'm just another one of the players out there.''

Through the first three games, Mowry has 31 yards on 16 carries, returning punts and kickoffs and scored a two-point conversion in the Tigers' lone victory against Norfolk State Sept. 11.

While he was starring in the WB series "The Smart Guy,'' Mowry developed other interests, and one of the biggest became football. Since the age of 9, he proved to himself that he could play the sport well.

"I was always the quickest one or the fastest one,'' Mowry said. "Everyone else knew it too. I wanted to keep working harder to get better.''

According the Los Angeles Times, Mowry ran for 1,432 yards and scored 19 touchdowns in helping his Westlake Village High School team to a 14-0 mark, capturing the 2003 Southern Section Division IV championship.

His prep performances brought many recruiters, including those from Washington State, San Jose State and several Division I-AA schools in California. However, his visit to Savannah State convinced him to pack his bags and leave the West Coast.

"I wanted to go to a place where I would for sure play my first year,'' said the 5-7, 170-pound Mowry. "I wanted to have that opportunity to really get seen. I could've gone to a bigger school, but I loved the atmosphere here. When I came on the visit, I loved the attitude of the coaches and how they wanted to win badly. I'm coming from a winning high school program, and I like to win. I saw the same thing in the coaches.''

Savannah State is a historical black college, which was another strong appeal for Mowry in his decision-making process.

"It's an atmosphere where they are a lot tougher on you because they want you to do so well,'' he said. "I love that. I'm a business major and the business program here is just great.''

For now, he's adjusting to all the nuances of college life both on and off the field.

His celebrity status seems to be wearing off with his teammates.

"There were a few jokes when I first got here, but now everyone just comes up to me and says, 'What's up Tahj. How are you doing?' he said. "Everyone knows I play football. They know I take this very seriously.''

On the field, he's trying to make a smooth transition.

"The terminology hasn't been difficult,'' Mowry said. "It is football, and once you learn one play you pick up another one. The biggest difference is the speed. In high school, it always seemed like you could take advantage of a couple of guys on defense if you ran their way. The problem now is everyone is good. They get in the backfield a lot quicker.''

Mowry also has a goal of playing football at the highest level. He knows it's possible since Shannon Sharpe, who caught more passes for yardage than any tight end in NFL history, played at Savannah State.

"I made it here, so why not try to take it further?'' Mowry said. "I don't like to stop what I'm doing in life. I always strive for the best.''

He also has some family lineage works in his favor too. His cousin Jameel Cook is in his fourth season playing fullback for the Tampa Bay Bucanners.

Whenever football ends, Mowry has a resume filled with acting credits that date back to appearances on "Full House,'' "Star Trek: Voyager,'' and "Sister, Sister,'' which starred his real-life sisters Tia and Tamera.

"Whenever I have time later on, I hope to try acting again, Mowry said. "It's always something you can go back to. It's been a couple of years since I've been on anything. Once high school football started to be the main focus around 10th grade, I took a break from acting. It's just something that comes naturally to me. I never took an acting class in my life. It's just something that's always been there.''