Hollywood Smothers: "I Feel Very Confident Going Into This Year"
NC State running back Hollywood Smothers met with the media to discuss the start of spring practice, his development at the position, and much more.
NOTE: Click the video above to watch the interview with Smothers.
On his relationship with Coach Roper...
No, no doubt, it's true. It's dope for me, honestly, especially, like, he was somebody that recruited me, coming out of high school. And somebody that brings the right energy to the scene, and that's far greater than all from the side of the ball. So it's a great thing, I'm excited.
What's the motivation of changing your jersey number?
So I got a tattoo, a number three on me, too, by the way. Like, I was born on the 3rd of February, I'm a third child. Like, my zodiac is an aquarius, an aquarius lucky number is three. So I figured out when I was nine years old, and I always wore it growing up.
As far as last year was concerned, obviously, you'd love to have more success as a team. But what was that like for you from a confidence standpoint going into year two with this program?
Really just, I wanna say it was like a good learning experience. Just a lot of games, we lost probably like six games on like one possession and stuff like that. So, and me just, I didn't really play till towards the back end of the season. So just knowing what it took, like, and knowing what we needed, especially for me playing a role in the background, like being a third back and seeing a transition and what it takes to like try to win games or get in a better position, or the things we weren't doing right. So I think it was a great year, and we were pretty young and stuff for us. So I feel very confident going into this year and stuff. And I had, like, a good couple of games to finish out to get more comfortable with the game and the game speed. So I'm excited for this year.
Where do you feel like are the biggest areas where you're trying to grow this offseason leading up to this season?
I want to say eye discipline, pre-snap reads, I can be quick with my reads, recognizing blitzes faster and stuff like that. Just that and reading coverages. I want to be more like a quarterback besides the quarterback. So reading defense, and knowing more, know the whole offense so I can be used all over the field.
How important is it to have your expected starting QB the same as the one that you ended the previous season with?
Right. It's great, honestly. And everybody knows how special CJ is. And, you know, he's going to be even better this year. It was just, he was just throwing the fire early last year and now he's getting more confidence and you can see it out there. He always had the intangibles and now, it's his show now. It's all about him. So yeah, I'm excited, and I know what I see from him every day. And, I'm just ready for the world to see.
The last three years, you've had to embrace a lot of change. What has that been like for you?
Um, it's been good. Like, I think, coming out of high school, just going away from home. I had to be uncomfortable for a while. I think everything happens for a reason. And, the few changes I always just had to adjust and figure out what was best for me and, and, just really just figure it out and just be on my feet. I honestly just trust the process. So, sometimes change is good and just gives us a new state of mind.
How's the line looking this year? What do you think they're going to get? How well do you think they’ll do this year?
I think they're going to be great. I love the line so far.
As far as I was going to say, as far as being your second year at NC state, I mean, how good is it to be with the same program for second straight year, as opposed to, you change high schools after senior year and then going to Oklahoma and now being back here for a second year.
It was definitely great. Honestly, I just got to learn how things were just like my freshman year, like learn tradition here and the culture and get closer to my teammates. So going to like, I built bonds throughout this past year with a lot of guys and stuff. I feel like this year is going to be a great year for me. I'm stepping more inside, like the leadership role and stuff, cause I've been here this past year and I'm, like I say, I got to learn a lot from last year.