University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Chop Wood and Carry Water: Demarrio Smith Rises Throughout His Collegiate Career
8/9/2019 1:14:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- It takes a lot for a freshman or even sophomore to earn a starting spot on the gridiron. Southern Miss senior defensive lineman Demarrio Smith learned that quickly, but it is all in the rearview mirror now.
"As a freshman coming in, it was tough," Smith said. "My redshirt got burnt, and I wasn't playing a whole lot, but as a sophomore I wasn't getting in a whole lot, and I told myself to keep coming to work. I have a saying to the younger players to 'chop wood and carry water.' Eventually, you'll get your opportunity, and once you do, you have to be ready. That's been the key for me."
Smith, who came by way of Canton, Miss., was originally committed to head coach Jay Hopson and Alcorn State, but once Hopson got the Southern Miss job, he invited Smith to join him. Fast-forward to 2019, and Smith enters the year as one of five Golden Eagles on the Preseason All-Conference USA team, the most in the league.
As Smith sought to adapt to the college game, he credited some of his former defensive lineman teammates for their motivation and encouragement.
"Paw Paw (Xavier Thigpen) helped me a lot with the playbook, and Dylan Bradley was an influence as well," he said. "I learned a lot by watching them because they were so tough. Paw Paw played with a herniated disc in his back, and Dylan broke his hand and still got three or four sacks. Those guys had a big impact on me as a freshman. They kept me motivated, and I would come to them when I got down on myself about not playing. They would say they were once in the same situation, and that my time was coming."
Smith has played in 11 games each of the last three seasons, and this past year he recorded 17 tackles as well as blocking a field goal at Auburn. The Nasty Bunch defense finished No. 3 nationally in allowing just 278.4 yards per game.
And yet, defense is not where his football career began. No matter what side of the ball he has been on, he has done his homework.
"Growing up, I was an offensive player, from middle school till my junior year of high school," Smith said. "I liked Jeff Saturday since I played center. Now, I look at Aaron Donald because we have the same body type. I study everything he does from Top-100 film to workouts. I had to play both ways in high school since we did not have a lot of people. My coach felt I'd have a bigger impact on defense, so I moved over and it's been that way ever since."
Smith's rise through the program has also seen him bulk up from 259 to 294 pounds, as well as increasing his bench press from 345 to 430.
That is a lot of wood and water.
Southern Miss opens the season on Saturday, Aug. 31 versus Alcorn State. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Single-game and individual tickets can be purchased via SouthernMissTickets.com, calling 1-800-844-TICK, or visiting the Pat Ferlise Center on campus during normal business hours.
"As a freshman coming in, it was tough," Smith said. "My redshirt got burnt, and I wasn't playing a whole lot, but as a sophomore I wasn't getting in a whole lot, and I told myself to keep coming to work. I have a saying to the younger players to 'chop wood and carry water.' Eventually, you'll get your opportunity, and once you do, you have to be ready. That's been the key for me."
Smith, who came by way of Canton, Miss., was originally committed to head coach Jay Hopson and Alcorn State, but once Hopson got the Southern Miss job, he invited Smith to join him. Fast-forward to 2019, and Smith enters the year as one of five Golden Eagles on the Preseason All-Conference USA team, the most in the league.
As Smith sought to adapt to the college game, he credited some of his former defensive lineman teammates for their motivation and encouragement.
"Paw Paw (Xavier Thigpen) helped me a lot with the playbook, and Dylan Bradley was an influence as well," he said. "I learned a lot by watching them because they were so tough. Paw Paw played with a herniated disc in his back, and Dylan broke his hand and still got three or four sacks. Those guys had a big impact on me as a freshman. They kept me motivated, and I would come to them when I got down on myself about not playing. They would say they were once in the same situation, and that my time was coming."
Smith has played in 11 games each of the last three seasons, and this past year he recorded 17 tackles as well as blocking a field goal at Auburn. The Nasty Bunch defense finished No. 3 nationally in allowing just 278.4 yards per game.
And yet, defense is not where his football career began. No matter what side of the ball he has been on, he has done his homework.
"Growing up, I was an offensive player, from middle school till my junior year of high school," Smith said. "I liked Jeff Saturday since I played center. Now, I look at Aaron Donald because we have the same body type. I study everything he does from Top-100 film to workouts. I had to play both ways in high school since we did not have a lot of people. My coach felt I'd have a bigger impact on defense, so I moved over and it's been that way ever since."
Smith's rise through the program has also seen him bulk up from 259 to 294 pounds, as well as increasing his bench press from 345 to 430.
That is a lot of wood and water.
Southern Miss opens the season on Saturday, Aug. 31 versus Alcorn State. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Single-game and individual tickets can be purchased via SouthernMissTickets.com, calling 1-800-844-TICK, or visiting the Pat Ferlise Center on campus during normal business hours.
Players Mentioned
DL
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