Freshman DL Jerod Smith added 25 pounds in offseason: 'That's what I had to do.'

Jerod Smith was already a legitimate four-star talent when he arrived on the University of Kentucky’s campus back in January as a mid-year enrollee. But in order to play football in the Southeastern Conference, you can’t coast on what worked in high school. Smith learned that quickly and has used the last several months to improve his body.

“I had to gain about 25 pounds this year to be able to play defensive line in the SEC,” Smith told KSR at Media Day last week. “That’s what I had to do.”

Smith — who is the “older” twin brother (by 15 minutes) of Jacob Smith, also a four-star recruit and current freshman for the Wildcats — was a massive pickup for head coach Mark Stoops back in the fall. Originally from Lexington, the Smith twins committed to Kentucky in Sept. 2023 after their Corbin Redhounds beat Frederick Douglass 6-0 in a defensive slugfest. They flipped from Michigan in what was a significant recruiting win for associate head coach Vince Marrow.

But all of the honors and accolades they had racked up in high school meant nothing once they stepped onto the field as college players. What worked then, suddenly didn’t work now. Jerod has since dedicated himself to improving his body to ensure he can play at this level sooner rather than later.

“During the spring, I was playing around 250 (pounds) and run game-wise, you get tossed around,” Smith said. “I could easily hold my own during the pass, but during the running game I couldn’t stay in there and hold it. Looking at all the other defensive line, they’re about 275, 280 (pounds). Nose (tackles) are a little bit bigger. I just knew that I needed to gain the weight, coach knew it, strength coach knew it, so we just worked on it and did it the right way.”

Upon arrival at UK, Jerod and the staff soon got to working on a new diet and workout routine. He went up to four full meals per day, including two snacks and a protein shake. He was able to add good weight without sacrificing any mobility or agility. The 6-foot-4, now-roughly 275-pound lineman says he’s faster and more explosive than ever, all while playing heavier.

“It was actually pretty easy,” Smith added. “It wasn’t hard to do.”

Playing time in the SEC is never guaranteed, especially for a true freshman — no matter how highly rated they might be out of high school. Luckily, Jerod has been able to learn under a pair of fifth-year seniors in Tre’vonn Rybka and Octavious Oxendine. That, combined with playing with his brother again, has helped ease the transition to college.

Smith isn’t expecting immediate snaps, but he’s eager to make an impact right away however he can.

“Whatever coach needs me to do.”

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