NC State running back Hollywood Smothers met with the media to discuss the start of fall camp, his development, and much more.
NOTE: Click the video above to watch the interview.
Y'all were really disappointed with how last season ended, not just with the ECU game, but also with the Carolina game and how everything went down. Do you personally feel like the season opener is a chance to kind of rewrite how things went?
100 percent.
Just not only the season opener, but all season, of course. Like, when the standard last year, a lot of things went wrong, and not the things we wanted them to go, the ways that we wanted them to go.
So I feel like the first game definitely showed how we're attacking this season with a different plan. We're doing way better. We're way more ahead than we were last year. So I think we get to showcase what we're about next year, going into next season.
Where do you see you guys are ahead from where you were at this point last year?
Just the team overall, the chemistry between the team and guys actually knowing what they want. Last year, everybody knows the ups and downs we had and stuff, but I feel like we had to go through those losses and learn from them.
We had six games of one possession, so learn what we did wrong and how we got to finish next time. I feel like we learned a lot based on last year.
Do you see the difference that you have this ability of being here two years in a row, which is the first time probably since your junior year of high school? Just having a routine for two years straight?
Yeah, kind of. Towards the end of the season, I would say last year, I probably came up with a routine of what I need to do every day. Like, keep me going every day, but not too much of a difference.
How much different is this fall camp, having a chance to show them what you can do last year and now heading into it as the lead back for this team?
Just really, just me being a leader, like I had Jordan Waters with me last year. He's really bringing a bright energy and teaching us things, coming in and how things work. So now I'm that guy that has to be first in the building and make sure my guys are held accountable and make sure everybody knows what they're doing. So I'm just stepping more into the leadership role in my role.
What have you seen from Duke Scott behind you?
Everything. Duke's got it all. I can't wait to see what Duke's got. He's a speed... combo of speed and power, and he comes to work every day and genuinely wants to learn the game like a student at the game. So Duke's got it all. He's going to be exciting.
Do you think he can compete for your spot?
100 percent. I tell him every day he should be trying to take my spot every day, man. That's what everybody want, man. Everybody behind him should try to take his spot. Like, that's just the standard I want. I tell him that every day, man. The more confident he gets, the more he knows how good he can be as the better player.
To the leap from being 6-6 to maybe being 10-11, 12-13 wins, is it close? Are you guys close or do you think it's...
Oh, we're close.
Yeah. Do you feel like with those one possession games, maybe a lot of people are kind of looking at y'all maybe less than what you should be?
For sure. 100 percent, man. I feel like if you're going to make a mistake, don't make the same mistake twice. Figure out the rights and wrongs that we did and how we didn't finish games when it came down to one possession. But I feel like we're definitely close. We take it serious. I feel like the approach to it is different now. I feel like we have everything we need to be successful to get 10 or more wins. Last one.
Talking about continuity, how much does it help to have a guy like Justin at tight end kind of be there and kind of help open up the field for the rest of you guys?
Great. Everybody knows, like, Justin's a great ball player. He makes the plays when you need him to make. He brings the right energy to the team. And he's experienced. Like, I think that, like, takes a lot. Like, people don't really know how much experience helps the team. Somebody that knows what they're doing and knows the speed of the game really helps, like, throughout the offense. So having Jody right there is perfect. We trust Joly.
