NC State right guard Kamen Smith met with the media to discuss fall camp, the offensive line room, and much more!
NOTE: Click the video above to watch the full press conference!
What's the offseason been like for you, just trying to get better? What have you been working on?
No, I believe a lot starts with your feet. So offseason for me, like every time I come in here, whether it's here with a trainer, I'm trying to work on my feet. Like, I feel like if I have fast feet, I can recover from any situation because I know I'm strong and I have power. So if I have the fastest feet, that's really just an ace in the hole for my game. So yeah, just start with my footwork first. And then once I'm out here with my guys, I can train my steps and my strike and all that. So really, that's what I've been focusing on.
What's it like blocking for a running back like Duke Scott as well?
It's just awesome having that trust in the backfield, just knowing. And it just makes you block harder, because you know you strain for that one extra second. These are guys who can make a home run play.
When guys like Duke Scott or a running back, say, for example, gets 1,000 yards, or a quarterback gets 3,000 yards passing, what does that feel like for a running back?
I mean, for me, that's why I do it. It's not about me, it's about knowing them guys behind me, that's what pushes me. I'm thinking, okay, I got CJ Bailey behind me, I got Duke Scott behind me, I got Bullet behind me. I'm blocking for them, guys; they're the reason I do it. So I do my job so they can shine and get the glory.
Do the individualistic goals actually pertain to the guys, the skill guys? You say that my goal is to get this guy 1,000 yards.
Yeah, I feel like when those guys reach their goals, it's reflected in us too. So, if they're having great games, we're doing a great job up front. So it goes without saying, kinda.
What would you say helps build that relationship you talk about with Duke and CJ? I mean, what kinds of things do you guys do off the field, not just on the practice field, whatever, that help build that relationship?
Yeah, so really this year, we took a huge step forward in doing things outside of here, with no coaches being there, just us. We have group chats where we go across each other; it's not just our position group. So we'll say, hey, y'all wanna do this? And it's not like we got big guys coming; everybody's trying to do it. I know Rico, and I have a nice townhouse. So we have guys come to our house, y'all pull up, we got a bunch of TVs. We can be in a separate room, but we're all there together; we're all gonna eat together. So doing that, and then we'll go on trips and all be together. If we go somewhere, we'll all train together, and we'll all just have fun together. So it's awesome—we just really feel that bond, that genuine love.
How supportive would you say that is when you get out in the field, and you're no longer competing against your brother in practice, but you've got the enemy on the other side?
Yeah, I feel like that's just the missing piece of the puzzle. Once you have that, you can just feel the energy; it's just different. It's a real love among everybody, and I feel like that's just an extra step in being a great team, a great squad. It's just having that real love for each other. Don't wanna let your brothers down; it's real love.
On the relationships with the offensive line...
Just day in and day out, knowing that I have to trust those guys. And just being in there every day, it's just building. It's just way different from last year. I'm closer with my guys; we all trust each other. There's real love between us.
And how much did last year teach you about getting to this point and being a guy that's leaned upon like that?
Yeah, last year just taught me that as quickly as you get to a position, it can be taken from you. Nobody's gonna wait for you, nobody's gonna feel sorry for you. So you just gotta go get it. So, for me, I'm working on getting better every day. I can't grow complacent, because as soon as I've grown complacent, somebody's gonna take my spot. So, just for me, just getting better and growing every single day, regardless of what it is.
I was asking Rico about Coach Tujague. Obviously, he's been here your entire time, but I mean, what is it like to work with him on a constant basis? Because we see it in spurts, but I mean, just the energy and what he brings to the field for you guys.
Yeah, no, just the way he motivates, it's just like you really feel it. He's just such a great coach—the way he attacks things, the way he talks to us—it's just real, genuine love. You can feel that he wants you to be great. So I feel like it just brings out the best in all of us. I'm just so grateful to have a coach like that.
All right, my last thing for you: just how good can this offensive line be this year?
We can be great, it's just the gel we have together, we're all genuine brothers. And we have a lot of guys who can play at a high level, too. So I feel like we can be as good as we are, and the team will start with us. It'll start with our energy, the way we carry ourselves. We hold ourselves to a high standard; we know everybody's counting on us.
