Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1332070
had, that enough was enough and we're not going to take this anymore." The turnaround was pronounced, as the Nittany Lions reversed their skid and finished the season on a four-game win- ning streak, with their defense becom- ing a critical component of that success. Rebounding from a 41-21 loss to Iowa on Nov. 21, Penn State held Michigan to 17 points, Rutgers to 7, Michigan State to 24 and Illinois to 21. The Lions gave up only 17.3 points per game during their winning streak, a sharp decline from the 36 points that their first five opponents averaged. Smith's performance mirrored that of the defense as a whole. He had five tack- les for loss in the season's homestretch, steadily improving as his responsibilities within the scheme came into sharper focus. Asked by a reporter late in the year whether he felt more comfortable with his role, Smith readily acknowl- edged the progress he had made. "That's something that I've heard a lot," he said, "and I'm glad that you pointed that out, because I have. At first, the beginning of the season… I just didn't want to make any mistakes, and that caused me to be hesitant. But now I know what to do. I've been in the system for a while, I know multiple linebacker positions, and I'm just now trying to have fun with it. I know what I need to do on the field and I'm just not thinking, and that's what has led to the play that is happening now." That Smith was able to reach that point was a matter of great significance beyond the immediate impact it had on the team's 2020 campaign. Playing more freely and without the fear of making mistakes, and having overcome an un- specified injury hinted at through the early part of the season, he demon- strated his preparedness for what's next. "Brandon has got a great work ethic and, to be honest, has worked through some challenges and I think is turning the corner," defensive co- ordinator Brent Pry said. "You're going to see him flash and do some nice things, and you're going to see some areas where he's still got to grow and be better. But I see im- provement in him every week, and that's what I'm looking for from everybody when we evaluate the guys." This off-season, Smith is expected to move to the Will OLB position, a switch that will allow him to remain on the field more often on passing downs. Having demonstrated an ability to persevere through low points, he is feeling opti- mistic as Penn State begins preparing for the year ahead. "We know for a fact that we can con- quer anything that we put our minds to," he said. "We dealt with adversity in many ways, from people getting injured to just things not adding up in general. And now, looking at what we're able to do when we actually can do what we want to do, it's a beautiful thing. I'm confident [for] next year and I'm looking forward to it." ■ IMPACT PLAYER Smith started all nine games this past season, finish- ing fifth on the team with 37 tackles, including eight tackles for loss and two sacks. Photo courtesy of Penn State Athletics