Smith motivated to make up for lost time
For weeks, the speed and athletic ability of CJ Smith’s were touted. Was there pressure to live up to the hype?
“A little bit,” fessed Smith. “But, you know, I feel like pressure makes diamonds. You know, pressure only makes great people.”
Smith will get a chance on a big stage on Saturday to show his wares when Purdue (1-7 overall; 0-5 Big Ten) plays at No. 3 Ohio State (7-1; 4-1) on FOX at noon ET.
“He’s a really explosive wide receiver,” said TE Max Klare. “He’s fast, can make some plays down the field and, you know, he’s a great player for us and someone that we need to look to.”
The 6-3 Smith came to Purdue from Georgia via the transfer portal in the offseason, finally debuting last week in a 26-20 OT loss to Northwestern after an early August hamstring injury had kept him out the first seven games.
Purdue went right to Smith last Saturday, as QB Hudson Card targeted him with a deep ball on the first play … only to see Smith drop the pass.
“Game day jitters,” said Smith, a sophomore. “Was a little nervous, but after that first one, I knew I can’t drop another one, I had to go make it up.”
Smith finished with four catches for 55 yards.
“I thought he ran good routes.,” said Ryan Walters in the post-game. “I thought he played hard. You know, just good to see him back playing. I thought he ran good routes. I thought he played hard. You know, just good to see him back playing.”
Smith was one of the prizes in the Boilermakers’ 2024 transfer portal class, a former four-star recruit who teems with potential. His most tantalizing trait: Purported Olympic-caliber speed.
Smith almost debuted before Purdue’s game at Oregon State on Sept. 21 before suffering a setback in his recovery. He dressed and went through warmups prior to the Oregon game on October 18 but didn’t play a snap.
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“It was tough, but it just motivated me more to get back as fast as I can, to help the team as much as I can,” said Smith about dealing with his prolonged absence.
Finally, it was go-time last week vs. NU.
“He hadn’t played a football game in a long time, and for him to go out and make the plays that he made,” said analyst Jason Simmons. “It’s easy for people to remember play number one. CJ was harder on himself than what we could be as coaches. It shows his resiliency and his maturity to bounce back and make several plays down the field for us late in the game.”
Smith is still rounding into form.
“Felt a little rusty,” he said. “It’s been a while since I got to be back on the game field, but nobody else to thank but God and the training staff here. I’m hungry, like I’ve been out so long with injuries and stuff like that, like I have nothing else to do but play.”
The Purdue wideout unit needs playmakers to step up as the program navigates a challenging November that includes games vs. three current Top 10 teams, with No. 6 Penn State and No. 8 Indiana looming in addition to the Buckeyes. Smith is ready.
“They’re willing to trust me, I’m willing to trust them,” said Smith. I got confidence through the roof.”
Purdue 2024 WR production
| Wideout | Catches, Yards (Ypc), TDs |
| 1. Jaron Tibbs | 20, 204 (10.2 ypc), 2 |
| 2. Jahmal Edrine | 15, 215 (14.3), 2 |
| 3. De’Nylon Morrissette | 9, 89 (9.9), 2 |
| 4. Shamar Rigby | 7, 39 (5.6), 0 |
| 5. Leland Smith | 5, 67 (13.4), 2 |
| 6. Andrew Sowinski | 4, 30 (7.5), 0 |
| CJ Smith | 4, 55 (13.8), 0 |
| 7. Jayden Dixon-Veal | 3, 23 (7.7), 0 |
| 8. Kam Brown | 2, 68 (34.0), 0 |
MORE: First look | 1st and 10 | The 3-2-1 | Hudson Card is QB1 | Purdue nets commitment from 2025 ILB | Opponent View | Move from D3 to Big Ten not too big for Purdue’s Jireh Ojata | Wednesday night live football talk | Matchup preview
