Brendan Smith Interview
Northwestern – Safety

By: Alex Khvatov

 

1/30/10

Alex Khvatov:  What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?

Brendan Smith:  I am 6’0”, 215 and I haven’t run a forty in awhile because of the ailments.  I had surgery two weeks ago.  I had my labrum repaired and hips shaved down.  I will have my other hip shaved down on March 1st.  I will be ready for the workouts in April before the draft.  There is a three to four week recovery after that.  I am not trying to push it and get hurt again.     
 

Alex Khvatov:  What positions did you play in high school? 

Brendan Smith:  I played QB my whole life.  I also played LB and safety my senior year.     
 

Alex Khvatov:  What schools showed interest in you during the recruiting process?

Brendan Smith:  Boston College, Clemson and Northwestern.  Michigan had me in for a personal workout my junior year.  They were looking at me as a QB.  But they were worried that I wasn’t big enough for them.  BYU and all of the MAC schools were recruiting me as a QB.       
 

Alex Khvatov:  Why did you choose Northwestern?   

Brendan Smith:  I went to their camp as a defensive back.  You can’t go wrong because of the academics here.  I also felt that it was my best shot at the next level as a defensive back.      
 

Alex Khvatov:  What are your strengths on the football field?

Brendan Smith:  My instincts.  I am a smart player.  I am a playmaker.  I am knowledgeable.      
 

Alex Khvatov:  What areas of your game do you need to improve upon? 

Brendan Smith:  My physicality and speed.  I haven’t been confident for the past three years because my hips have been bothering my back.  I have had nagging injuries.  I haven’t been at 100%.
 

Alex Khvatov:  Describe to us your career at Northwestern.

Brendan Smith:  In terms of football, I was the eighth player in the history of this program to be named team captain for two straight years.  I was also the first underclassman to be named captain in school history.  I am proud of that.  I was able to play in three bowl games.  I have been banged up here at Northwestern quite a bit.  I tore my MCL playing against Michigan State my freshman year.  I missed three games, but I came back and played in the last game of the season.  I was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection as a sophomore.  Then I took a medical redshirt year.  In 2008, I was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection again.  During my senior year I experienced injuries.  I was also a part of the team that enjoyed the third most victories in the two year span.   
 

Alex Khvatov:  What were your personal and team goals heading into your senior season?

Brendan Smith:  We knew that we would have a good team.  Our goal was to win the Big Ten.  We wanted to win the bowl game.  We came up short.  I wanted to play to my ability.  But my hips became too dead.  I found out that my labrum and my hips have been torn the day before we reported to camp this year.  I was trying from there to handle and manage the pain.  It definitely limited my performance.  My left hip was hurt and torn for about two years.  I always played through the pain.   
 

Alex Khvatov:  Tell me about the Outback Bowl against Auburn.

Brendan Smith:  It is a team game, and we beat ourselves like the Vikings last night against the Saints.  The program is heading in the right direction.  Everyone thought that the SEC team will beat us up, but we hung in there.  We just came up a little short.    
 

Alex Khvatov:  What will you miss the most about Northwestern?

Brendan Smith:  I will miss the guys.  It has been a great experience for me to play here.  I was a two-time captain.  Guys looked up to you, now it is going to be different.     
 

Alex Khvatov:  What is the most memorable moment of your college career?

Brendan Smith:  I would have to say that it was the Minnesota play.  I took an interception back for a TD with 17 seconds left to win that game.  It is a play that pops out.   
 

Alex Khvatov:  What is your favorite NFL team?

Brendan Smith:   I have grown up a Patriots fan.  I am a Massachusetts guy.  I want to be a part of a team.  The Patriots are a team.  They are an organization that is not about the individuals.  You have to check your egos at the door.   
 

Alex Khvatov:  Who is your favorite NFL player?

Brendan Smith:  I have always loved Brett Favre.  He wears emotions on his sleeve.   
 

Alex Khvatov:  Which underclassmen on your team should we keep an eye on in the future?

Brendan Smith:  There are a couple of guys.  Jordan Mabin has a chance to break out of his shell.  Jeravin Matthews transitioned to corner and he has the biggest upside for next season.
 

Alex Khvatov:  Tell me about your former teammate DE Corey Wootton.

Brendan Smith:  On and off-the-field, he is a great player and a great person.  He went down last year with an injury in the Alamo Bowl.  He battled back from the ACL which is not an easy thing to do.  He is a guy that takes this game seriously.  He does the right thing.  He is a competitor.  I would love to be on his team again because his team always has a shot to be successful.  He battled through injuries.  You want to be out there on the field so bad, but your body won’t allow it. 
 

Alex Khvatov:  Does your head coach Pat Fitzgerald have this program headed in the right direction?

Brendan Smith:  I am a 100% certain of that.  I have all of the confidence in him.  Winning that bowl game would have solidified that fact even more.  We have gone to back-to-back bowl games.  We had a nine and an eight win seasons.  He definitely has the program headed in the right direction.  He wants his players to be the best people that they can be.  He stresses community service and academics.  He is doing a lot of great things for the program.
 

Alex Khvatov:  You were a team captain for two straight seasons, what is your definition of a leader? 

Brendan Smith:  My definition of a leader is someone that can take control of himself during the time of struggle and lead others to success.  It is growing a standard of leading by example.  You don’t have to be vocal to be a leader.  A leader is someone that will be there and someone that will show the proper way of going about their business.
 

Alex Khvatov:  Has the NFL always been in the back of your mind?  

Brendan Smith:  The NFL has always been a dream and my goal.  It feels that it is right there.  I am a little bit behind the eight ball right now.  I don’t want people to think that I am injury prone.  I know that I had both hips shaved down and the labrum injury, but I won’t have back problems anymore.  It is the healthiest that I felt in a long time.  It is exciting that I will be a lot healthier than I have been.  I know that I probably won’t get drafted, but all I am asking for is an opportunity to perform and show people what I can do.      

Alex Khvatov:  How are you preparing for the NFL Draft?

Brendan Smith:   I am working out three times a day.  I am just rehabbing.  I am running in the pool because I can’t run on the ground.  I have gotten my weight up and I am eating better.  I am able to structure my whole day around training and focus on that.  

Alex Khvatov:  What do you plan to do with your life after football?  

Brendan Smith:  I want to give back.  I want to be a guidance counselor.  I want to own a sports complex for the inner city youth.  I want to help.  I want to teach and coach.     

Alex Khvatov:  What is the greatest lesson that you have learned in life? 

Brendan Smith:  My dad always said that nothing is easy in life.  The road to success is not always paved.  You have to put on hiking shoes and climb.  Those who are strong and dedicated are the ones that will be successful.     

Alex Khvatov:  What are your hobbies?

Brendan Smith:  It is all about sports with me.  I love music.  I want to learn to play the guitar.  It is all about training right now.   

Alex Khvatov:  Finish the sentence, Brendan Smith is….

Brendan Smith:  A hard working competitor who is willing to do anything for the success of the team.  I am not money driven.  I want to be the best that I can be.