Isaac Smith used small setbacks as motivation

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State’s football program has changed dramatically since 2017. Jeff Lebby is MSU’s fifth head coach since former coach Dan Mullen left for Florida after the 2017 Egg Bowl.

After a few disappointing seasons, Mike Leach looked set to put the Bulldogs on the path to long-term success, finishing with an 8-4 record and an Egg Bowl win. However, the legendary head coach would tragically pass away just a couple weeks after the win in Oxford.

State would promote defensive coordinator Zach Arnett, who would win a significant recruiting battle within Magnolia State. Isaac Smith signed with State on early signing day despite offers from LSU, Florida State, Georgia, etc.

The Fulton, Mississippi, graduate was a starter in both careers at Itawamba Agricultural High School. He rushed for 1,196 yards and 23 touchdowns on offense while racking up 51 tackles and five interceptions on defense during his junior season.

Smith was named Mr. Football in the 4a classification in Mississippi and earned a consensus 4-star. Getting his recruiting done was a big deal for the former team, but he suffered injuries during his freshman year, forcing him to miss spring practices.

Smith enrolled in college early, missed his final semester of high school and learned a valuable lesson in the process.

“Not everything is going to go your way. Even if you have a small setback, don’t let it affect the way you work,” Smith said.

Despite all the setbacks the 6-foot, 205-pound safety faced, he played in all 12 games last year for the Bulldogs. He made 15 tackles last season, which is solid for a freshman, but the expectations placed on his shoulders were heavy.

Like most highly recruited high school players, Smith was always the best player on his team. Coming into the Southeastern Conference, though, every player was always a starter. The harsh realities of SEC life can be brutal for a highly touted freshman, but it was fuel for Smith.

“I have a bigger grudge,” Smith said. “I have to work even harder to prove to myself and others that I can live up to what we did last year and be even better.”

Smith, who is entering his second season, will have a new defensive coordinator, Coleman Hutzler, and a position coach, Matt Barnes. The transition to a new coach can be difficult, especially when the previous one played a major role in recruiting, but Barnes and Smith have a strong bond.

“Coach (Matt) Barnes is like my best friend,” Smith said. “We joke around and we play around, but when it comes down to business, he’s a great coach who always tells you the truth and keeps you honest.”

The youth of this Bulldogs defense is well documented, but the talent on the roster is overlooked. Smith, Kelley Jones, Brice Pollock, etc., have talent, but they lack experience, which is not a good sign.

However, a player can gain experience more than talent, which is a positive for State considering the young talent, especially in the secondary. Smith will play a pivotal role for the Bulldogs’ secondary this season on the field, and Barnes says he has intangibles that are rarely seen in today’s college football.

Getting leadership from the team’s most talented players is critical, and Smith could fill that role.

“He is who he is every day, a great leader and a guy who speaks out loud in a time when it’s hard to find someone like that,” Barnes said. “He speaks out on and off the field and he’s not afraid to tell guys that this needs to get better, and he has a great feel for the game.”