Photo by SicEm365
Baylor Football
'6 Pack of Bear': Plenty on the plate for DE K.J. Smith
The accolades validate Baylor defensive end K.J. Smith. He's on the watch list for the Bednarik Award, Nagurski Trophy and the Lott IMPACT Trophy. He's a preseason first-team All-Big 12 selection for the conference, as well as several media publications. And off the field, Smith has more than 800 community service hours.
A fifth-year senior from Frisco, Smith had 7.5 sacks last season and is ranked ninth among Baylor defenders in career sacks with 12. He needs six sacks to become the school's all-time leader -- and that's a definite possibility.
Baylor fans know what Smith can do. It's now simply a matter of getting him on the field. Smith was one of four players at Big 12 Media Days at Ford Center at the Star -- located in his hometown -- and he chatted with SicEm365 to discuss everything Baylor.
SicEm365
YOU'RE ORIGINALLY FROM FRISCO. BIG 12 MEDIA DAYS WAS IN YOUR HOMETOWN THIS YEAR. WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEING BACK HOME AND BEING THERE?
"It was great. It's a little different, but it's great. You've got all the media around. They've got me in a nice suit. Plus, every time you get a chance to come back home, it's great. I mean look at this place [Ford Center at the Star]. It's a beautiful facility, so it's a great day."
YOU'RE NOT FAR AWAY FROM BAYLOR'S CAREER SACK RECORD. IS THAT SOMETHING YOU THINK ABOUT?
"Definitely. I mean, it's motivation. It's a goal to get that, and it would be an honor to have. I'd love to represent my school that way."
THERE'S A NEW ATTITUDE AND NEW ERA AT BAYLOR. WHAT'S THE ATMOSPHERE LIKE IN THE LOCKER ROOM?
"It's very positive. Everybody's really accepted Coach Rhule and his staff and everything they're trying to instill. We're just working on competing and just being the best we can each and every day out."
MATT RHULE MADE A HUGE IMPACT AT MEDIA DAYS. YOU GUYS ALREADY KNEW ABOUT HIM, THOUGH. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HIM AND THE REST OF THE STAFF?
"From Matt Rhule on down, they're very genuine guys. They're going to tell you what you need to hear. They're very straightforward, and I appreciate that. They're guys you can really get behind. They accepted you into their family, and you do the same for them. It's a great start to hopefully a long relationship with him and his staff."
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU? YOU'VE DONE SO MUCH ON THE FIELD, BUT YOU SAID THERE'S STILL SO MUCH LEFT TO DO.
"I just want to do right by my teammates. Every day, I try to lead by example. I'm not too much of a talkative guy, but I definitely want to go out and be the guy who guys say, 'That's how you need to work.' I just want to carry myself right and get better every single day."
SOME OF YOUR CRITICS THINK THIS IS THE YEAR WHERE WE'LL SEE A BAYLOR DECLINE. HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THAT WITH YOUR CRITICS?
"I don't address it. You go out, work every single day and come out day one to prove to everybody we're still here. We're going to play good defense and good offense."
A fifth-year senior from Frisco, Smith had 7.5 sacks last season and is ranked ninth among Baylor defenders in career sacks with 12. He needs six sacks to become the school's all-time leader -- and that's a definite possibility.
Baylor fans know what Smith can do. It's now simply a matter of getting him on the field. Smith was one of four players at Big 12 Media Days at Ford Center at the Star -- located in his hometown -- and he chatted with SicEm365 to discuss everything Baylor.
SicEm365
"It was great. It's a little different, but it's great. You've got all the media around. They've got me in a nice suit. Plus, every time you get a chance to come back home, it's great. I mean look at this place [Ford Center at the Star]. It's a beautiful facility, so it's a great day."
YOU'RE NOT FAR AWAY FROM BAYLOR'S CAREER SACK RECORD. IS THAT SOMETHING YOU THINK ABOUT?
"Definitely. I mean, it's motivation. It's a goal to get that, and it would be an honor to have. I'd love to represent my school that way."
THERE'S A NEW ATTITUDE AND NEW ERA AT BAYLOR. WHAT'S THE ATMOSPHERE LIKE IN THE LOCKER ROOM?
"It's very positive. Everybody's really accepted Coach Rhule and his staff and everything they're trying to instill. We're just working on competing and just being the best we can each and every day out."
MATT RHULE MADE A HUGE IMPACT AT MEDIA DAYS. YOU GUYS ALREADY KNEW ABOUT HIM, THOUGH. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HIM AND THE REST OF THE STAFF?
"From Matt Rhule on down, they're very genuine guys. They're going to tell you what you need to hear. They're very straightforward, and I appreciate that. They're guys you can really get behind. They accepted you into their family, and you do the same for them. It's a great start to hopefully a long relationship with him and his staff."
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU? YOU'VE DONE SO MUCH ON THE FIELD, BUT YOU SAID THERE'S STILL SO MUCH LEFT TO DO.
"I just want to do right by my teammates. Every day, I try to lead by example. I'm not too much of a talkative guy, but I definitely want to go out and be the guy who guys say, 'That's how you need to work.' I just want to carry myself right and get better every single day."
SOME OF YOUR CRITICS THINK THIS IS THE YEAR WHERE WE'LL SEE A BAYLOR DECLINE. HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THAT WITH YOUR CRITICS?
"I don't address it. You go out, work every single day and come out day one to prove to everybody we're still here. We're going to play good defense and good offense."
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