Miami Hurricanes linebacker Chase Smith talked with the media after another day at fall training camp.
On the energy around the team during the first week of fall camp: It’s been really good energy. We’ve been focusing on attacking everything, making sure we’re 1-0, being extremely intentional in every aspect, leaving no discrepancies on the field.
On how the team has changed over the last four or five years: It’s been an increase in every aspect. We gonna treat this year as the only thing we have in life. The next day is all we have guaranteed, so we’re just trying to move forward in that aspect.
On what he wants to work on during fall camp: Everything, trying to fine-tune everything. Wherever coach wants me to work on any technique, gotta fine-tune it.
On the linebacker room: We’re extremely confident in our group, and we feel like we have extremely good young guys, and we feel like we have depth to us, and we feel really extremely confident in our group.
On which young linebackers are standing out: We got a lot of promising people. Karsten Busch is extremely smart, Kellen Wiley is extremely smart, JJ Edwards. We got everybody that can just fill in the roles anywhere.
On Karsten Busch: He really surprised me. He really picked up things really quick, and I really have a good outlook on him, and I really think he’s gonna have a very promising career, and he can be an immediate impact for us.
On Coach Corey Hetherman: I love him. Some people will call him a psychopath, but we need it in every aspect. And I think he’s extremely intentional in everything he does, very process-oriented, and he’s exactly what we need.
On feeling ready to go full speed: I had a lot of road bumps, but I’ve always been intentional and always thought I was capable. And this year, it’s just about being able to express that on the field.