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FRISCO, Texas – On the defensive side of things, no matter what the system of style of defense, I believe there are two positions that if the talent and execution is there can really further the defense. The first is a good nose tackle or inside technique upfront. That guy makes it hard on the run game and helps unable the pass rush. The second position is cornerback. Good cover corners allow you to be more creative and free with the middle and midlevel defenders like safeties and linebackers. Cam Smith is one of those corners. He is one of the defensive returners and there aren’t many.
“Last year was unacceptable to all of us,” Smith stated clearly in Frisco at Big 12 Football Media Days.
I think Oklahoma State has six quality corners. Cam Smith started all 12 games last season. He and defensive tackle Iman Oates are the only two returning. Kale Smith is a ball-hawker that is back. He was a third or fourth corner last season. Redshirt freshman LaDainian Fields is talented and back. The new coaching staff has noticed something I thought and that is third-year corner Kenneth Harris, a transfer before the 2023 season from Arkansas State can play.
There are two transfers in J.K. Johnson (LSU/Ohio State) and Jaylin Davies (UCLA/Oregon) that are experienced and talented. Most have been coached by multiple college corners coaches.
Smith is in that club now and I’ve always believed that multiple coaches make players better.
“Duff was an amazing coach and I miss him,” Smith started jumping in on my premise. “I learned a lot from him. Like you said, it is good to learn things from different coaches and Coach Jules (Montinar), he coached under (Nick Sabin) and he’s coached draft picks and first rounders and he is knowledgeable. He has seen a lot and it is good to also take in what he has to offer.”
Smith and those corners also get a good dose of the quarterbacks and what they have to offer, how good they can be with Zane Flores and Hauss Hejny competing for the job.
“They are all competitive. They are all good,” Smith said of the duo and the recent additions behind them in Banks Bowen and Mason Schubert. “They are talk a little bit of smack, but you know it is all love.”
I tried another opinion out on Smith. I suggested that Hauss Hejny might be the best running quarterback that I’ve seen at Oklahoma State. He didn’t shoot that down either.
“I would say Hauss is very fast, he’s extremely fast,” Smith added. “I remember watching him in the winter and seeing him run and I’m thinking he played receiver. ‘No, no this is the quarterback.’ Oh yeah, he has definitely got a second gear to him.”
Second, third, and maybe a fourth gear. Gears like corners, the more the merrier.
