Miami Northwestern DE/OLB Michael Smith was second in Dade County last season with 18 sacks. The pass-rushing specialist reflected on his season performance.
"I really wasn't expecting it to happen, but it just did through hard work and training on my technique in the summer. Right now, I'm just trying to bulk up and gain a lot of weight to make my hit power stronger. I'm in the 205-210 range right now," said Smith.
Smith played almost primarily with his hand on the ground last season as a defensive end, which was extremely successful for him and his team. Despite this success, Smith might have a completely new role for his senior season.
"I'm trying to improve on being a middle linebacker and improve my coverage skills because a lot of schools would be taking a gamble on a guy that can only put his hand in the dirt and not drop back into coverage. I feel it will come naturally to me, though."
How does Smith plan on making the transition?
"I feel like I will make that adjustment with the strong coaching of Coach Luke (Campbell). He's teaching me all of the techniques of being a linebacker because when I go to the next level that's basically the position I will play."
One of the reasons Smith noted for the change was that it could help with his recruitment. He already holds offers from the likes of Clemson, Louisville, West Virginia, South Florida, and Marshall. There's one school in particular though, that he's hoping the position switch could help his status with.
"UM may come after me more because they wanted to see if I could play the linebacker position sometimes because they didn't want me with my hand in the dirt all the time because I'm undersized anyways. They just want to see if I can handle the linebacker position."
Miami has always been a program that Smith has thought highly of.
"I've always liked the Hurricanes and that's always been the childhood favorite since I was young. I've always cared about them and wanted to be a 'Cane because I see myself wearing the orange and green. Through the course of the years, I've seen the program go through these allegations, but I see it going in the right direction with Al Golden. I'm hoping to get an offer."
The Northwestern product was on hand for the basketball team's blowout victory over Duke back in January.
"The last time I went was for junior day when they played Duke. It showed me that Miami has a lot of love for the football players and they really care about the athletes and athletic program. I was with Coach Micheal Barrow and I was getting a cool vibe from him. Obviously he went to the NFL, so he knows how he could get me to the next level."
It's obvious Smith has love for the 'Canes, but which school is after him the hardest at this point?
"The school recruiting me the hardest is Clemson. They just keep sending me hand-written letters every week from their coaches."
"I really wasn't expecting it to happen, but it just did through hard work and training on my technique in the summer. Right now, I'm just trying to bulk up and gain a lot of weight to make my hit power stronger. I'm in the 205-210 range right now," said Smith.
Smith played almost primarily with his hand on the ground last season as a defensive end, which was extremely successful for him and his team. Despite this success, Smith might have a completely new role for his senior season.
"I'm trying to improve on being a middle linebacker and improve my coverage skills because a lot of schools would be taking a gamble on a guy that can only put his hand in the dirt and not drop back into coverage. I feel it will come naturally to me, though."
How does Smith plan on making the transition?
"I feel like I will make that adjustment with the strong coaching of Coach Luke (Campbell). He's teaching me all of the techniques of being a linebacker because when I go to the next level that's basically the position I will play."
One of the reasons Smith noted for the change was that it could help with his recruitment. He already holds offers from the likes of Clemson, Louisville, West Virginia, South Florida, and Marshall. There's one school in particular though, that he's hoping the position switch could help his status with.
"UM may come after me more because they wanted to see if I could play the linebacker position sometimes because they didn't want me with my hand in the dirt all the time because I'm undersized anyways. They just want to see if I can handle the linebacker position."
Miami has always been a program that Smith has thought highly of.
"I've always liked the Hurricanes and that's always been the childhood favorite since I was young. I've always cared about them and wanted to be a 'Cane because I see myself wearing the orange and green. Through the course of the years, I've seen the program go through these allegations, but I see it going in the right direction with Al Golden. I'm hoping to get an offer."
The Northwestern product was on hand for the basketball team's blowout victory over Duke back in January.
"The last time I went was for junior day when they played Duke. It showed me that Miami has a lot of love for the football players and they really care about the athletes and athletic program. I was with Coach Micheal Barrow and I was getting a cool vibe from him. Obviously he went to the NFL, so he knows how he could get me to the next level."
It's obvious Smith has love for the 'Canes, but which school is after him the hardest at this point?
"The school recruiting me the hardest is Clemson. They just keep sending me hand-written letters every week from their coaches."
