Q & A WITH TORRIN SMITH

Your story is sort of unique. You were on the team as a sophomore the whole season and didn’t see the field very much. And then you came out last year and were a two-way starter all season. What was your mindset coming into last season compared to when you were just a sophomore?

“I think the weight room is a huge part of it, just knowing that I’m twice as strong. I was just comparing myself to everyone and I stopped doing that so much and just started believing in myself — not worrying about what other people are doing. Just knowing you are going to out-perform (your opponent) every play was huge. It’s the mental side I would say made the biggest difference.

Last year you were thrust into a tough spot on the offensive line after Trevor Schirmer was unable to play all season with an injury. Talk about having to adjust to your new role at left tackle and balancing that with playing middle linebacker.

“I was planning on paying o-line, but not to the amount that I did. I was planning on maybe getting in there to give Schirmer a break when he got tired — maybe give him a break sometimes when we were up by a lot or late in the game. I thought maybe I would play a little guard for (Ethan) Anderson when he needed a break as well — I was expecting that type of role (on offense). I wasn’t expecting to be thrown in there and playing every snap, but it made me a better player for sure.“

Was it harder in the beginning of the year getting in shape, or did you pick it up pretty well?

“I thought I was in pretty good shape and then the end of two-a-days came around and I was gassed. I’d get done with defense, then jog over to offense, do goal line stuff — it’s a lot more tiring than you’d think it is. It’s a lot more tiring than I thought it would be.

Last year, you were the ‘Sack Guy’. You led the team with 5.5 on the season had one sack in four straight games at one point. Talk about your role on defense and how you ultimately emerged as a guy who could get to the quarterback.

“It was sophomore year and it was that game I got to start at linebacker. I got chewed so bad for just standing there, I was just sort of frozen. The quarterback would go back to pass and I would just stand there after making my drop, even if I got to the right place. I would just freeze. Then at halftime I got a little pep talk and was basically told I needed to just ‘go. Get moving.’ And that sort of stuck with me all of last year.”

Is there a memorable sack from last season that you are particularly proud of?

“I think the Mayo one in Week 1. The quarterback booted out (and) it was open field, one-on-one, full speed. I didn’t need to break down or anything, and I just sacked him. It was perfect.”

I heard you might have your hand in the ground and shift to defensive line this year?

“I am definitely playing defensive line. It’s not ‘if’ I’m going to play there, it’s for sure…Seventh grade, that was the last time I played on the d-line. I made the switch to linebacker in eighth grade and was there through last year.”

In your mind, what’s the main differences between playing linebacker and defensive line?

“Both are still super physical, and I would even say d-line is more physical. Some plays you’re not in contact with anyone at linebacker. Maybe you’ll get a little break during a pass play. But every play on the line, you’re going. There’s also no more running start like there was at linebacker.”

You guys are going to have some decent size up front and will be hard to move around. How important is it to have that type of physicality?

“It will be nice to get that consistent push. Being a linebacker, you definitely notice it when you get a good push. It throws things off (for the opposition). They can’t pull around as easy and they can’t run the ball nearly as easily when you’re getting pushed a couple yards off the ball. You can’t just run whenever you want, either.”

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