Smith coming in ready to play

Based upon numbers, Smith shouldn't be in a position to contribute this year, but that is obviously not the case.

I could see him earning a starting role heading into next season.

I could see him getting serious play time as a true freshman and starting a few games. JMO, he will be better than some of the guys that are targeted as starters now.

I love the additions of him, Nowicki, and Mangiro...3 guys that seem physically ready to play right away unlike Ricketts, Gress, Dieffenbach, Graham, etc. I'm not saying all of those guys won't pan out but Nowicki, Mangiro, and Smith all three look much more impressive physically coming out of high school than the above guys listed. Mangiro, Smith, and Nowicki look like they can flat out move people.

Sean, Scout's database lists Smith at 6'7" vs the 6'5" in the article. Just wondering if you've had a chance to stand next to him.

He's about 6-6 in shoes, maybe a shade under. I list him at 6-5 I think that's where he'll be listed in college.

He's a big boy.

Love this kid's work ethic, focus, and drive. Definitely a breath of fresh air. A lot of the recent recruits have been really hard working kids, with leadership personalities, and good teammates to have (Fortt, Redd, Hull). I hope that this continues. Smith is certainly one of these kids.

Not saying that the seniors the last couple years haven't been hard workers (Wiz, Hull, Lee, etc. CERTAINLY WERE hard workers), but there have been a few kids the last 2 years that have never reached their potential (Bani, Maybin- although he was drafted early and wasn't at PSU long, I know people that know him personally and word is he parties too hard- Morelli, Scoratto, etc.) and have gotten a bad rap because of their work ethic/ propensity to party hard (Bani was always at the Cell block/Den/even Tony's when it was open).

Not a complete knock here, but that is what people who are at PSU now and have been say about some of the guys... I just think that some players had the attitude that "so and so is ahead of me, so I can slack off" rather than truly competing. B. Ware has said this recently himself. Certainly, not everyone shares this attitude, and there have been freshmen and sophomores come in right away, step up, work hard, and earn their playing time. I just hope that we luck out and recruit more of these type A personalities, because it really isn't easy to tell if a kid is built that way. We def. lucked out here with Smith...

Hopefully D. Smith rubs off on some of the other kids coming in and we remake the locker room's attitude. Certain players have already said this has happened (Fortt, Redd, and Mauti) and that all the players feel like it's more of a family this year and that everyone is trying to make everyone else better... There are def. some good personalities on the team right now- hard workers with leadership personalities. I just see this kid as a stud that will be a leader for years to come and add to the locker room and morale of the squad. Very happy with this pick up, and think that he is too under the radar still. He will burst on the scene in a big way.

On the flip side, it is kinda sad that he will surpass other higher rated recruits (Shrive) in the process. But then again, goes to show you that even if you are highly ranked and heavily recruited and pursued and wooed by other schools, you still have to show up and have that lunch pail attitude and be ready to work- some kids have it, and some don't. Coodos to the staff (Larry Johnson) on this one. I already have a man crush on D. Smith (along with Redd, Fortt, D. Jones and Mauti).

PS. Sorry about the length of the post, but I just had to get that off of my chest after reading about this kid and reflecting about some of the stories that I have heard about others. Again, love D. Smith.

IDK rmj, Belton could be a gem at Safety lol

+1

might want to give donovan a new nickname since we already have a d. smith on the team

For shi'ites and giggles...

OT
Q. Barham (Sr.)
C. Okoli (Sr.)
M. Farrell (Jr.)
N. Cadogan (So.) - TE?
E. Shrive (So.)
A. Mateas (rFr.) - OG?
T. Ricketts (rFr.)
R. Nowicki (Fr.)
D. Smith (Fr.)

Looks like Shrive and Ricketts better establish themselves this year or Smith will be looking to bypass...

Don't forget Adam Gress, he's ahead of Shrive on the depth chart as well. But I would say Cadogan is behind Shrive. Should be an interesting battle between Farrell, Shrive, Gress, and the Don for the two OT spots. Shrive could move to guard with Urshel at the other spot. The coaches always preach gettin the 5 best out there. Also Matteas is at OG right now FWIW