State safety Isaac Smith preps for another Top 10 SEC road battle

Mississippi State has another tall task on the road this week and that’s been the norm over the past month or so. The Bulldogs travel to Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday to face No. 7 Tennessee in a 6 p.m. kickoff (ESPN) at Neyland Stadium.

Earlier this week after practice, Mississippi State sophomore safety Isaac Smith met with the media to discuss Saturday’s challenge among other topics:

Q: Another Top 10 road game in the SEC. How have previous road games this year prepared this team for Saturday’s trip to Tennessee?
Smith: I mean, you look at our schedule and we played at Texas, at Georgia. We went in there and competed our tails off for four quarters of the game. I think this is just another game like that, if not better because we know what to expect. We know what we need to do to win.

Q: What was that experience like to go play at Georgia and that atmosphere?
Smith: It’s definitely surreal. Always growing up imagining myself on a stage like that, just playing against teams like that. Just getting the opportunity to go compete against guys they say are the best. Honestly, it’s just a blessing.

Q: What was the message to the defense last week after falling behind 10-0 after two drives?
Smith: We came out and got down 10-0 quick. I think we had to come back and make a statement that we knew what we were doing wrong. It was about going on the sideline, looking at the iPad and just executing when we went back out there for the next drive.

Q: How big of a turn of momentum was Brylan Lanier‘s interception?
Smith: The past couple of weeks we’ve been talking about getting and keeping momentum. I think that was a big point in the game. We got the big kick return there by (Davon) Booth and then (Lanier) comes back with an interception right there, which gives the ball back to our offense. They go 98 yards and score a touchdown, which was big.

Q: Was that a reminder it takes just one play sometimes to turn it around?
Smith: Yep, one play. Momentum can change a whole game completely. Once you got it, keep it. If you don’t got it, go get it.

Q: How key is tackling this week from the safeties against Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson?
Smith: He’s a really good back. It’s going to come down to everybody flying around to the ball and not let their tempo get us off our keys and execution and our technique. So just 11 guys just flying around to the ball and lying their life on the line, really.

Q: Who are some of the guys on the scout team giving the team good looks each week?
Smith: Really all of them. They come out every day, go to their meetings each and every day. They bust their tails just so we can go out on Saturdays and execute. Honestly, I think that part of football gets overlooked a bunch. We wouldn’t be where we are and any school wouldn’t be where they are without the scout team.

Q: Who are some of those guys who stick out to you on the scout team?
Smith: Creed (Whittemore) is redshirting this year so he’s been big. T-Hud (Trent Hudson), Jake Weir does a great job at quarterback for us. Just the younger guys, it’s also helping them. The freshmen come over there and they’re getting reps against the 1s and 2s. It’s honestly helping them and their future, just getting those reps.

Q: You said a couple of weeks ago that this program was going to be a lot better soon. Has that message changed for you guys?
Smith: I like to believe that every day and I believe that every day. We got to keep the momentum off this past win, going to Tennessee and beat them. That’s the goal, going to Knoxville to win. I think these next three games we’ve got to keep giving it our all and come out and compete hard each and every game, especially the last one. In particular, the rest of these games we need to come out and give it our all.

Q: What would it take to get a win in that Tennessee atmosphere?
Smith: Really staying locked in and focused during the week, watching a bunch of film. It’s going to come down to execution. Offensively, they’re going to go fast. Defensively, they are going to play hard and fast, as well. We just got to go prepare and ready to play all four quarters of the game.

Q: Players say Jeff Lebby is the same win or lose. Are you seeing him be the same person throughout the season?
Smith: He is the same. Winning, of course, the energy levels are the same but when you win, the vibes are a lot more fun. I will say that. But he comes each and every day with the same goal in mind, and that’s for us to get better each and every day, every game and just win. Do what we need and do what it takes to win.