North Carolina State University Athletics
Senior Spotlight: Tyler Smith
9/16/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 16, 2014
Smith, who played high school football at Broughton High School, is a walk-on to the program after spending three seasons at Western Carolina and then transferring to State.
“All my life, I’ve been a State fan and having the opportunity to run out onto the field at Carter-Finley Stadium is a pretty special feeling,” Smith said. “I can’t really describe it.”
As a member of the Wolfpack, Smith is part of the scout team that helps the offensive starters prepare throughout the week. Smith and other members of the scout team defense are assigned a player on the opposing team to mimic as closely as possible throughout the week of practice.
Although Smith can’t remember any of the specific players he’s had the opportunity to mimic, he stresses that it’s important part of the process to help the squad with preparation for that week’s game.
“We study as much on the opposing team as possible,” Smith said. “We try to mimic our guy as close as possible, so the starters can be as ready as possible for that game. Going into the game, our offense will have seen a lot of the formations and plays the opposing team that the opposing team will try to run on game-day.”
The Raleigh native started his collegiate career at Western Carolina, where he was a member of the football team for three seasons before joining the Wolfpack program prior to the 2013 season.
“Western Carolina gave me the opportunity to play there and so I decided I would try it out,” Smith said. “I realized it wasn’t where I needed be.
“I decided to come to NC State because it’s close to home and I’ve wanted to come here my entire life. I was given the opportunity by the coaches and decided to take it.”
Smith says he originally met with Wolfpack defensive line coach Ryan Nielson, who gave him the opportunity to come out for spring practice in 2013. The walk-on was able to take advantage of his opportunity and earned an invite to fall camp. Smith said that he just tried to keep it going in the fall and that led to his opportunity to be apart of the squad.
Now in the program’s second year of the Dave Doeren era, Smith notes that the coaching staff is stressing preparation and keeping the team healthier for the 2014 campaign. Depth is one of the ways the coaching staff hopes to avoid injuries that took a toll last season.
According to Smith, one of the things that stood out throughout fall camp is the amount of depth along the defensive front. The senior says that the added depth will help keep everybody physically and mentally fresh throughout the season.
“Our depth along the defensive line is a big, big strength for us,” Smith stated. “If we have an injury, we have another guy that can step right in and play, instead of having to switch guys to another position because we don’t have enough depth there to rotate someone in.”
Attending NC State has also allowed Smith’s family the opportunity to come watch him and his teammates play on Saturday afternoon’s in the fall at Carter-Finley Stadium.
“Since Western Carolina is a four or five hour drive from Raleigh, [my family] couldn’t always come for the weekend,” Smith said. “At NC State, they can come right down the road and come watch the rest of the team and I play. It’s really nice having them right there in the stands.”
When looking back years from now on his career at NC State, Smith hopes to take away two things: work ethic and the relationships he’s built. According to Smith, Doeren and his staff instills a strong work ethic in each of their student-athletes that will benefit them throughout the rest of their life. Smith also cherishes the relationships that he’s built as a member of the team and will look back at those being one of the best parts of playing for the Wolfpack.
Outside of football, Smith uses his free time to hunt and fish. He enjoys hunting anything from duck to deer to bear, while also fishing in any pond that he sees.
“We don’t have much time off during the season, but if I get an afternoon I’ll go out and catch some fish or deer or duck hunt,” Smith stated. “I typically go to any of the lakes around here, including Falls Lake, Jordan Lake or Harris Lake.”
On the academic side, Smith is a psychology major and says he chose psychology, because it covers many different backgrounds and subjects.
Following his football career, Smith says that he would like to attend law school and become a criminal lawyer.
“I would be interested in going into criminal law and eventually going into sports agency. I’ve always had an interest in being a defense attorney.”
As for now, Smith is just looking to enjoy his final season as part of the Wolfpack program and is focused on helping the squad get ready for the next week’s game as much as possible.
“I’m just enjoying every second of being on this team,” Smith notes. “It’s probably been the best achievement in my career.”
RALEIGH, N.C. - As a Raleigh native, senior defensive tackle Tyler Smith of the NC State football program has dreamed of having the opportunity to play for the Wolfpack program. For the last two years, he has been able to live his dream.
Smith, who played high school football at Broughton High School, is a walk-on to the program after spending three seasons at Western Carolina and then transferring to State.
“All my life, I’ve been a State fan and having the opportunity to run out onto the field at Carter-Finley Stadium is a pretty special feeling,” Smith said. “I can’t really describe it.”
As a member of the Wolfpack, Smith is part of the scout team that helps the offensive starters prepare throughout the week. Smith and other members of the scout team defense are assigned a player on the opposing team to mimic as closely as possible throughout the week of practice.
Although Smith can’t remember any of the specific players he’s had the opportunity to mimic, he stresses that it’s important part of the process to help the squad with preparation for that week’s game.
“We study as much on the opposing team as possible,” Smith said. “We try to mimic our guy as close as possible, so the starters can be as ready as possible for that game. Going into the game, our offense will have seen a lot of the formations and plays the opposing team that the opposing team will try to run on game-day.”
The Raleigh native started his collegiate career at Western Carolina, where he was a member of the football team for three seasons before joining the Wolfpack program prior to the 2013 season.
“Western Carolina gave me the opportunity to play there and so I decided I would try it out,” Smith said. “I realized it wasn’t where I needed be.
“I decided to come to NC State because it’s close to home and I’ve wanted to come here my entire life. I was given the opportunity by the coaches and decided to take it.”
Smith says he originally met with Wolfpack defensive line coach Ryan Nielson, who gave him the opportunity to come out for spring practice in 2013. The walk-on was able to take advantage of his opportunity and earned an invite to fall camp. Smith said that he just tried to keep it going in the fall and that led to his opportunity to be apart of the squad.
Now in the program’s second year of the Dave Doeren era, Smith notes that the coaching staff is stressing preparation and keeping the team healthier for the 2014 campaign. Depth is one of the ways the coaching staff hopes to avoid injuries that took a toll last season.
According to Smith, one of the things that stood out throughout fall camp is the amount of depth along the defensive front. The senior says that the added depth will help keep everybody physically and mentally fresh throughout the season.
“Our depth along the defensive line is a big, big strength for us,” Smith stated. “If we have an injury, we have another guy that can step right in and play, instead of having to switch guys to another position because we don’t have enough depth there to rotate someone in.”
Attending NC State has also allowed Smith’s family the opportunity to come watch him and his teammates play on Saturday afternoon’s in the fall at Carter-Finley Stadium.
“Since Western Carolina is a four or five hour drive from Raleigh, [my family] couldn’t always come for the weekend,” Smith said. “At NC State, they can come right down the road and come watch the rest of the team and I play. It’s really nice having them right there in the stands.”
When looking back years from now on his career at NC State, Smith hopes to take away two things: work ethic and the relationships he’s built. According to Smith, Doeren and his staff instills a strong work ethic in each of their student-athletes that will benefit them throughout the rest of their life. Smith also cherishes the relationships that he’s built as a member of the team and will look back at those being one of the best parts of playing for the Wolfpack.
Outside of football, Smith uses his free time to hunt and fish. He enjoys hunting anything from duck to deer to bear, while also fishing in any pond that he sees.
“We don’t have much time off during the season, but if I get an afternoon I’ll go out and catch some fish or deer or duck hunt,” Smith stated. “I typically go to any of the lakes around here, including Falls Lake, Jordan Lake or Harris Lake.”
On the academic side, Smith is a psychology major and says he chose psychology, because it covers many different backgrounds and subjects.
Following his football career, Smith says that he would like to attend law school and become a criminal lawyer.
“I would be interested in going into criminal law and eventually going into sports agency. I’ve always had an interest in being a defense attorney.”
As for now, Smith is just looking to enjoy his final season as part of the Wolfpack program and is focused on helping the squad get ready for the next week’s game as much as possible.
“I’m just enjoying every second of being on this team,” Smith notes. “It’s probably been the best achievement in my career.”
Coach Doeren Signing Day Presser (Dec. 3rd)
Wednesday, December 03
FB Players Postgame Presser vs UNC
Sunday, November 30
Coach Doeren Postgame Presser vs UNC
Sunday, November 30
Coach Doeren Weekly Press Conference (Nov. 24)
Monday, November 24