Donovan Smith Knows He’s In NFL
May 9th, 2015
Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.
A cool thing each year on the first day of rookie minicamp is to see the smiles. Yeah, the smiles.
The players, whether they are from Florida State or Penn State or Nebraska, or those from West Tumbleweed State who won’t be football players next week, truly are living the dream.
These guys have been through a lot. All the work, the sweat, the blood, the effort. The hours in the weight room and high school two-a-days and the colleges practices, etc. It’s all now paying off.
They are actually being paid to play the game they love. And Donovan Smith, the hulking left tackle from Penn State, said he finally realized that Friday. That he is now in the NFL.
“When I walked in the locker room,” Smith said of when it finally hit him he has reached his childhood goal.
“I got that phone call, it’s still a little kind of like ‘Oh, man’, but when I walked in the locker room and saw my jersey, helmet and everything and it was my locker, that’s when it hit me. Getting on the plane here and then seeing the locker room and everything, that’s when it hit me.
“Yup, the clock. There we go. I think there is about 90 days and some change [until the first preseason game]. We’ll be ready though.”
Even the coaches, including Lovie Smith, had a hard time not smiling. They knew these youngsters are finally realizing they are getting paid for what they played in the backyard as kids. It’s cool.
On days like yesterday, it’s hard to find anything bad about football.
To hear more from Smith, click the black button below. Audio player courtesy of Joe’s good friends at WDAE-AM 620.
May 9th, 2015 at 10:01 am
I am happy with this pick…as well as Ali…….hope they work out as NFL starters
May 9th, 2015 at 10:09 am
Agreed JoeJoes,
I absolutely love what the Bucs did and moves they made to improve the team.
May 9th, 2015 at 10:31 am
You got to believe in yourself to make it in the NFL. This guy seems to do so. He has all the tools++ to have some success. If he plays with motivation each and every play he will be a major upgrade to our oline.
May 9th, 2015 at 10:44 am
If Edwards & Pamphile have improved to the point where they can compete and contribute….we have something going.
I like both our Oline picks…..especially Ali….I think he will end up being a very special teamate and inspiration to others.
May 9th, 2015 at 11:03 am
America’s LT
May 9th, 2015 at 11:22 am
I see this guy starting for 13 years and making the pro bowl 10 out of the 13 seasons. He has the size, strength and smarts. He reminds me of Ritchman Webb that played for the Dolphins way back in the 90tys.
May 9th, 2015 at 12:34 pm
Hey guys, check out my video I just posted on Donovan’s game against Northwestern in 2014. More to come!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ItlHfJUSqk
May 9th, 2015 at 12:41 pm
If JW and the linemen and KB pan out to be good players in the NFL then
I would dare say that L&L are damn good drafters. Rockstars even.
I came here to defend my client Barry but I’ve since become a huge Bucs fan.
Barry was re-arrsted last night on suspicion of car theft so I’m cutting my
losses. I tried my best to get him out of trouble.
May 9th, 2015 at 1:50 pm
When he’s in pads in a regular season game I will pass judgement on this guy. I’m hopeful, but I absolutely despise the way Licht and Lovie declare these guys as starters the moment they are drafted or signed. Its bad business and it’s a good way to get less than full effort from the guys that are already here.
May 9th, 2015 at 3:09 pm
@gotbbucs
I agree to a point – but putting pressure on highly drafted rookies isn’t the worst thing in the world to do. That they would be starters is why they were highly drafted. There isn’t a starting LT on the roster right now, or a quality RG – so doing that with them isn’t hurting anything. If D Smith can’t beat out… well nobody, then they made a horrible mistaking picking him.
May 9th, 2015 at 5:04 pm
@ Louis
It’s fine if they want to shove him in as a starter from day one, but Licht needs to learn to filter himself in front of the media. It just sends a bad message in my opinion.
May 9th, 2015 at 7:16 pm
Very hopeful that the scouting staff got it right on this guy. pick #34 is very close to being a late 1st round pick – and there were other tackles on the board that most “experts” had rated higher than Smith when the Bucs picked.
Licht had his hand picked staff to work with towards this draft – as opposed to last year when he worked with the scouting staff that was inherited.
Time will tell. If Winston, D Smith and Marpet all turn out to be solid starters or better over the next 3 years – then this draft will have been a smashing success.
Add in the promise of the 5th round speedy yet tough Nebraska receiver and the potential of the LSU linebacker – and its definitely possible that 4 future starters came out of this draft – which would indicate excellent drafting.