Here’s a short interview TJB did with Jets’ Undrafted Free Agent Nick Smith, an Offensive Lineman from San Diego State. On his Pro Day, Smith (6-4 5/8, 314 pounds) Nick ran the 40-yard dash in 5.54, had a 34½-inch vertical jump, 9-foot-5 long jump, 4.98 short shuttle, 8.37 three-cone drill and 28 reps in the 225 pound bench press.
Thanks to Nick for taking the time, and we wish him the best!
TheJetsBlog: I found you via checking referrals (from my site) to a message board about the computer game World of Warcraft, so exactly how badass is your WoW character then?
Nick Smith: Yeah… I stopped playing when the expansion came out because I just couldn’t keep up. Last summer though, I was like that guy in the Southpark Episode. I could kill anyone over and over again untill they quit. It was awesome. That was pretty much all I did, eat, workout and play WoW.
TJB: Explain briefly, your process since the season ended to now, signing a contract with the Jets.
NS: I played in an all star game called “Texas Vs. the Nation” and did really well there. Then I spent the next few months preparing for pro-day. I pulled my hamstring running my forty which was no good, but it is healed up now. I am excited to get into mini camp.
TJB: What contact have you had the Jets staff so far … what are they like?
NS: I have had several brief phone calls. It is hard to get a read on people in that situation. I have heard some stories about [Jets TE/Assistant OL] Coach Devlin from my O-line coach here at SDSU. They played together for the Cardinals.
TJB: The Aztecs struggled this season under a new head coach, what did you learn from that?
NS: The Aztecs are lucky to have Coach Long. There will always be an adjustment period when a new coach comes in, but Coach Long is making the right changes for our team. He is a great coach and a great leader.
TJB: Some Jets fans might not have gotten a chance to see you play in college, what can you tell fans about yourself?
NS: I am very aggressive. I play with a lot of passion and intensity. People at SDSU called me “Nick the Prick” or “White Rage.”
TJB: If a coach said, “OK Nick, how/where can I use you best?” How would you answer?
NS: I can play any position on the O-line. I am very comfortable at left guard and center, but I played left tackle this year also. I am not afraid of failure either, if they ask me to play corner back you better believe I’m gonna get out there and try to get some interceptions.
TJB: Do you study other players? Is there a player that you have tried to model yourself after?
NS: I don’t really study other players. I am a product of coaching more than anything.
TJB: You played against a new Jet teammate this past season, LB Mark Zalewski of Wisconsin. What can you tell us about his game?
NS: We did not move the ball much against Wisconsin so he must be really good.
TJB: What’s the best part about playing OL? Toughest part?
NS: The best part is when you dump someone out hard. When they know that you just took them for a ride that they had no control over. I love that feeling. The worst part is that you never know when football is going to be over. You have to take it for all it’s worth.
“White Rage” sounds like a solid back-up. Gotta love those hungry anything-for-the-team type players. Although seeing at CB would be a stretch. DT maybe?
BB, these are the great stories the main stream media can not cover. Thanks, hope you can get some more.
Nick, sure you are checking this out, we all wish you the best, come in and work your ass off, you are in the right spot, this coaching staff gives everyone a shot. You will get a fair shake here. Good luck.
My mom’s good friend’s daughet is this guy’s fiance, so I know a lot about him. He is a very underrated player. They said his 40 at pro day was off because of the hamstring. He ran a 4.86 in his senior year of college. He is a monster though. I’m a huge, die hard Jets fan, and I am so glad to see the Jets pick this guy up, it’s a great move! I watch the film of him playing TCU, since TCU is my favorit college I had the tape, and he was a monster! He was plowing people to the ground, I love this pickup!
BTW, Jets are going 13-3 and winning the Super Bowl this year, no doubt in my mind.
My son played with Nick in JUCO…a quick story. I was at a Safeway store and this kid that was bagging groceries played D line for another JUCO team said this about Nick…”the guy blew us all off the line. ..all of us D linemen were talking while the offense was out there and none of us wanted to go back into the game and have the guy manhandle us in front of our friends and family…we were making up injuries to avoid going back on the field”.
Cool…