PowerMizzou QA with Jacquies Smith

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On Monday, Gary Pinkel listed eight freshmen who were in position to see playing time this season. Perhaps most surprising to many on the list was defensive end Jacquies Smith. PowerMizzou.com caught up with the true freshman from Dallas after Tuesday's workout.

PowerMizzou.com: Tell me after two and a half weeks, you're getting some reps with the second team, is everything going pretty well?

Jacquies Smith: "Oh, yeah, it's going great. I mean, from the last scrimmage, I moved up the depth chart. I've been getting a lot of help from the older guys trying to help me out to see where I fit at and where I can help the team at."

PM: Did you come into camp with the idea that you might be able to see the field this year?

JS: "When I came in, I mean, just seeing where I fit in and how can I help this team out, I just kept working hard. The older guys pushed me through a lot, they were just telling me what I needed to do and the coaches helped me out a lot. When I came in, I always thought I did have a chance."

PM: The comparison I've heard to your game is Brian Smith, with the size and the speed. Are you familiar with him being from Dallas?

JS: (Laughing) "Yeah, I watched a lot of Mizzou games with Brian Smith here. I was playing a lot of D-end in high school as well. I have drawn a lot of comparisons to him, but ain't no comparison right now because I haven't done it. Brian Smith's still the great right now."

PM: Where do you think you need to make the biggest improvement from now until when you would actually be playing in a game?

JS: "Basically just getting all the plays down and getting mentally ready to play. It's a different jump from playing in high school to college. You have to be physically ready, but you have to be mentally ready too. I mean, basically, just taking the coaching and listening to the older guys that have been here doing it can help me too."

PM: Have you actually been told you are playing or is it a situation where you still think you need to have a couple of good weeks to make sure?

JS: "Basically, that's about it. They told me there's a great percentage, about a 99% chance, but I've still got to do more work to solidify and sew that up basically."

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