BRADEN SMITH: Heading inside

[PonyPride]

Three months after moving from quarterback to safety, SMU sophomore-to-be Braden Smith is on the move again: to inside linebacker. Smith visited with PonyFans.com to talk about how the move came about, and what he's doing to prepare for his new role.

http://www.ponyfans.com/features/index.php?id=172

Enjoy!

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[PK]

I love the last line.

“I think I’ll be OK there — I already like hitting people.”

[mrydel]

I like Braden, and he may become a great middle linebacker, but this just reinforces my belief that we are really going to miss Kennemer this year. Putting a QB as your backup in the primary defensive position on the field is scarey.

[davidpaul123]

what a team guy! there is a whole lot to love about this kid!

[Otto]

I dig this move. He's supposedly as football-smart as anyone on the team, partly because he's a coach's son. He's willing to play anywhere ... I'm sure he'd play nose tackle or kicker or guard if you asked him to.

And when you think about his running style when he played quarterback, I could see a little linebacker there. He clearly isn't afraid of contact. He doesn't have long to go to be as big as Chase Kennemer. Now he just needs to stay in the position (and weight room) for a year or two, and we might have one hell of a linebacker. Good luck, Braden.

[southerncomfort]

Hahaha Joe is definitely "colourful"...but everybody loves Joe. And Coach Mo.

[Hal]

Great story

[larskjenstad]

I like the heart of this kid, but at 205 lbs, he has to knock the snot out of you, otherwise he gets trampled playin MIKE position

[Pony4Life]

I don't know — Kennemer wasn't that much bigger.

Besides, hopefully Smith gets to pick his spots filling in as Taylor Reed tears it up as the starter.

[Mestengo]

On the way out.

[Hoss]

On the way out.

Huh? What does that mean?

I kind of like this move, now that I think about it. Braden always seemed to like contact when he took off to run with the ball, anyway. He's got to get stronger, of course, but between his willingness to hit and his obvious football IQ, I think he'll work out OK at LB.

[jason54858]

I know Troy Aikmen played some middle linebacker in high school. I understand Brandon is going the other way but maybe QB to MLB could be a natural transition.

[HorsePower]

If he shows he can adapt to another position and play it well, it's just another reason to believe he'll be an outstanding coach.