Smith Has Sights Set On Strong Sophomore Year
August 14, 2024 | Football, Joel Coleman
Bulldog safety ready to be a big part of the State defense.
STARKVILLE – It's been said many times before that experience is the best teacher. Well, it's been said for so long because there's no denying that truth.
Isaac Smith can certainly attest to it. The Mississippi State sophomore safety is preparing for his second year with the Bulldogs a year older. He's a year wiser. He's still young, but he's now been through some wars in the Southeastern Conference and knows what to expect.
What's the biggest lesson of all Smith has picked up since a year ago at this time?
"Not all things are going to go your way," Smith shared. "Even if you have a minor setback, don't let it determine how you work and how well you prepare yourself for the next game."
It's easier said than done. Play the next play or next game unaffected and unbothered by whatever has happened before. Smith insists he grasps that concept much better now than he did as a wide-eyed Bulldog pup. When you mix that tough-as-nails mentality with Smith's talent, you've got a special player in the making for State's secondary.
Smith's abilities have long been known. This is a guy that came to State as a four-star prospect out of Itawamba Agricultural High, just about 60 miles up the road from Starkville in Fulton, Mississippi, where he was Class 4A's Mr. Football in 2022 and rated as one of the Magnolia State's top recruits.
Smith then showed early flashes of his tremendous skillset on the SEC stage a year ago as he played in all 12 games during his rookie year at MSU, totaling 15 tackles including six solo takedowns. But more importantly than the numbers Smith was putting up was the personal development he was getting.
Smith credits former Bulldog safety Shawn Preston with setting a high standard last season. Preston exemplified how the game should be played.
"Seeing [Preston] play hard and play fast all the time, it was just a blessing to be behind someone like that," Smith said.
Now, Smith is looking to make Preston and Bulldogs everywhere proud. It helps Smith's cause greatly that he's feeling good.
Prior to last season, Smith had been slowed by a couple of ailments. Those hindered Smith's practice time ahead of the 2023 campaign. This preseason, it's been a different story and it's allowed Smith to lay a firm foundation for 2024.
"Fall camp for me has been good," Smith said. "I've been healthy, unlike last year when I was battling my shoulder and my knee. I actually got to go into fall camp off a full spring workout and a full summer workout. Now I'm just getting to learn the playbook and getting deep into that, so I'm ready and it's been good."
It's not just Smith believing he's ready. Head coach Jeff Lebby also sees Smith's preparedness and focus.
"He's going to be a huge part of our defense," Lebby said. "That's obviously a guy that's a safety for us and we're going to be able to move him around and do some different things. He's a guy that has some leadership skills and plays the game the way you want it to be played."
Everything appears to be aligning for Smith to make a splash for the Dawg defense this year. From his mental makeup to his abilities, everything appears to have gone up a notch for a guy that already had all the potential in the world.
To top it all off, he's driven. He's determined to show all watching just how good he can be.
"I've got a bigger chip on my shoulder [this year]," Smith said. "I feel like I'm having to work a lot harder to prove to myself and to other people that I can fill the shoes of what we had last year and be better than what we had last year. I've held myself to the mindset of working hard and grinding to prove to everybody that I can do this."
