In the days leading up to this month’s NFL Draft, University of Utah cornerback Sean Smith -- projected as a first-day pick -- will be writing a blog for the National Football Post about his experiences and thoughts. This is his first entry.
If I had to describe my life the last few months, I’d say it’s been like a roller-coaster. Up and down.
I started off high, coming off a Sugar Bowl win over Alabama and then making the decision to come out this year, and things were looking real good. But then you hear people say negative things about you, like you’re a safety, not a cornerback, or you’re not fast enough – and the roller-coaster starts to go down. So you ask yourself if you made the right decision.
Then it goes back up again. I went to Florida to work out at a training facility that my agent David Canter recommended and where some of my teammates had a lot of success, and my speed started increasing -- and a lot of things happen to get your confidence back up. I had 24 interviews at the Combine with teams and they went really well, and I went away feeling good about things.
One thing I’m learning is that when you’re expected to go high in the draft, a lot more is expected of you. So the work never stops. I trained for the Combine in February, but that’s kind of like training for straight-line speed. I ran the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds flat, which was slow in my eyes. It wasn’t the result I wanted to see – so the roller-coaster starts to go down. And I didn’t weigh what I thought; I wanted to be 210 but I came in at 214, and people were saying I was too big to play corner.
I went to Fort Lauderdale, worked hard and ate a strict diet. On my pro day in March, I weighed 209 and ran in the low 4.4s. So things were going up again. Now that the team interviews and my personal visits are over, I’m putting my cleats back on and getting into football shape.
It never stops. But I’ve been playing football in pads since I was 8 years old, and here I am, just a few weeks away from the draft.
I didn’t think I’d be here as a cornerback. At high school in Pasadena, Calif., I was a wide receiver, but my last year I played running back and had over 1,500 yards rushing. I was highly recruited by all the teams in the Pac-10, but once I converted to running back, those same schools backed off because I wasn’t your typical back. I was tall and lanky.
The schools that still had an interest were Oregon, Utah and UTEP. I begged and pleaded with them not to just look at me as a running back because I played defense, too. Oregon ended up taking a player who was ranked higher than I was, and Utah was coming off a trip to the Fiesta Bowl in 2005 and looked at me as a running back.
I definitely didn’t want to limit myself to running back. I wanted to contribute in any way possible.
I redshirted my freshman year and played running back on the scout team. I begged my coach, Kyle Whittingham, to let me switch to wide receiver. At the end of the season, I finally got my opportunity. Then one day at practice, I was messing around during one-on-ones playing defense. Coach saw me, and at the time I wasn’t playing a lot on offense. My role wasn’t what I wanted it to be. So I asked him if I could play defense. We had a game against BYU, and they had a tight end that was a good match-up for my size and athletic ability.
I had a good game, and that led to me playing defense in the 2006 Armed Forces Bowl. When the season was over, I sat down with my coach and told him that I wanted to pursue defense. He wanted to make sure I was making the right decision because he knew I was gifted with the ball in my hands. I said if it was an opportunity to start right away, then I wanted to play defense. I was a good receiver, but I guess I was just impatient and wanted to get on the field.
Now I’m here in Dallas, staying with my brother and getting ready for the draft. I’m a combination of nervous and excited. You go from being a college student to getting a chance to live your dream of playing in the NFL.
Words can’t really explain the feelings I’ll have on draft day. It’s an exciting process, and I’m working hard and thinking about my future.Give me a guy who just wants to get on the field any day!!! Hope to see you in New England.
This is very good player to have a draft diary with here -
Sean, if you are taking questions -
I would like to know what your thoughts are on going to a team like Miami - With the expectations of being matched up twice yearly in the division against Randy Moss and Terrell Owens, as a corner -
What is the confidence or intimidation factor here coming in from college with such expectations - And what do you feel are your strong points as a cover corner in matching up against receivers of their size, speed and ball skills?
Sean,
If you are reading this, there are a lot o Saints fans that want you to be drafted by the Saints.
I think that once you get to NFL, all of this which position you play junk talk will stop.
I think that it would to your benefit if you played whatever postion a team would ask of you, to the best of your ability.
It's great to see a guy from my town make it to the NFL. Best of luck to you Sean!
I am more and more liking him as our pick at #9. If Raji and the 3 tackles are off the board, the Pack should jump on him. Maybe it's too high but his physical traits are off the charts, Asomougha-like. We need some CB depth and can get OlB in the later rounds.
Very articulate, thoughtful piece. I'm looking forward to seeing Sean play in the NFL, hopefully in the home opener at Foxboro against the Bills!
good luck Sean. you will be a Raider no matter what... in my Madden league.
Awesome to have this on NFP.
Sean has definitely been one of my favorite players over the last few months, and it would sure be cool to have him play on my favorite team.
Sean,
You have been an absolute stud at Utah. I for one will miss watching you play on Saturdays but look forward to seeing on Sundays.
Best of luck! You deserve it and you've earned it.
Good writing, and good luck in the draft.
Sean we will miss you at Utah, best of Luck and I know you will make someone happy after the draft.
Good luck Sean, Ute fans everywhere will always be supporting you. Rock it baby!
Sean, We loved you here at the U, and always will.I was there in Laramie for that outstanding ESPN top 10 pick....unbelievable!! We hate to see ya go, but you will always be a Utah Man!!! Way to go out on top, and we hope to see you on Sundays...Best of Luck! "Who am I sir?"...Go Utes!!!
Sean, the following question is not meant to create controversy or anything, it is just out of curiosity :
When you say "I went to Florida to work out at a training facility [...] and my speed started increasing", I'm quite curious how your speed can increase like that in a few weeks.
Is it because you never practised track and didn't learn "straight-line speed technique"? Is it more a confidence thing?
Sean - You were a stud at Utah! Thanks for signing autographs and posing for a picture with my 12-year-old son after the BYU game! He plays corner and wide receiver and idolizes you.
Congrats on a great college career and good luck on Sundays!
Sean we wish you the best of luck. Whoever gets you will be VERY lucky. Don't forget the Utes, we look forward to seeing you on the sidelines on Saturday whenever possible. Go Utes!!!
sean you are the man!! i loved watching you in that ute uniform. i have been a season ticket holder for the last 4 years at utah and me and my dad would always watch you out there. you are so animated and made the game fun to play for yourself but also fun to watch for us fans.
good luck in the league and never forget that you will always be a utah man to me.
KI-YA!!!!
I'll be the first to say "Welcome 2 The A"!!! You want to play defense, we want a franchise db....i smell playoffs! I'll keep mt "interception predictions" to myself. Good luck homie.
Nice to see another Ute making his way to the NFL. Living in CLT I get to see Smith, Gross and Kemo every Sunday and that's certainly not something I expected when I left the U and SLC 12 years ago.
There are certainly a lot of teams that are hoping you drop to them, Sean. Remember how you got here and don't let the joy of 'making it' take away from what should be a great career. Best of luck! And, while I cheer for the Cards, the Panthers could certainly use your services (and I'd certainly not mind having one more Ute in the Queen City!)
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Apr 06, 2009
02:12 PM
The more we find out about you the better it sounds. You're easily the best corner judging by the ball skills you command.
You becoming a two way Deion type of presence to a game plan, that would be something to really market your skills with!
Why don't people list you in the top ten?