Sylvester Smith relishes intense battle at safety, feels the Auburn D will ‘surprise’ this fall

AUBURN — Sylvester Smith only played a handful of snaps last season, but heading into his second preseason camp, the redshirt freshman is in the thick of a heated competition at safety.

His main competition is junior Caleb Wooden. The two are battling to see who starts, most likely opposite Texas transfer Jerrin Thompson. The competition is intense, but Smith is taking it in stride.

“I look at it as at the end of the day, whichever way it goes, me and Caleb are both going to be on the field. I just take it more just learning from Caleb. Caleb’s played some ball. I haven’t really played that much ball in college, so just having Caleb and competing with Caleb every single day, it’s made me better and, you know, may the best man win,” Smith said on Monday.

“I’m just learning his mindset. He’s got a very strong mindset. So, just being around him and just seeing how he attacks each play and learning what is he thinking before each play and after each play adjusting and things like that.”

According to Pro Football Focus, Smith was targeted four times in 29 snaps last season. He allowed zero catches, finishing with one tackle. Smith certainly feels better prepared this August than one year ago.

“I’m just a lot more confident,” he said. “I feel like last year, just being a freshman I just got thrown in that water. Coming back this year, I’m just more confident.”

AUBURN, AL – August 12, 2024 – Auburn Wide Receiver Sam Jackson V (#18) and Defensive Back Sylvester Smith (#19) during a fall camp practice at the Woltosz Football Performance Center in Auburn, AL.

Photo by Austin Perryman

Along with learning from Wooden, learning from a veteran like Thompson has been beneficial as well.

” I spend so much time with Jerrin every single day. I’m going to leave here, go to his house, watch film, come back here, and we’re gonna watch film with the coaches and everything,” Smith said. “But just having Jerrin, he’s made my game so much better, just how knowledgeable they are. Like, Jerrin’s really, really smart. He’s played some ball. He knows a lot of things, and just getting tips from him and being able to be places because I know things because of him has been a real big factor in my game.”

Smith joins Champ Anthony, Terrance Love, CJ Johnson, JC Hart and Kayin Lee as second-year defensive backs trying to take strides in Year Two.

“All of us are pretty much close,” Smith said. “That’s been a big emphasis this year compared to last year. We’re all chasing one goal. If you focus on the one thing that you’re trying to accomplish as a team, all your individual goals, you’ll meet them eventually. Just working as a team, everything that you want personally, you’ll be able to get. That’s been one of our big emphasis.”

Lee is the furthest along of that group, scheduled to start at cornerback opposite Keionte Scott. Smith feels like a big year might be incoming for Lee, and maybe an Alabama transfer, too.

“Kayin’s a dog. I can’t even explain it. He’s just crazy athletic,” Smith said. “He’s really, really focused right now. So, just seeing him focused like that to know what type of corner you are going to get out of him on Saturdays. It’s exciting to play beside a guy like him. And also Antonio Kite, he’s from where I’m from. Kite can go. I don’t think he gets enough praise, but he’s one of them guys who can go.”

Smith is now under the tutelage of new safeties coach Charles Kelly. So far, so good.

“Me and Coach Kelly meshed well. Coach Kelly recruited me all through high school. Coach Kelly got to watch me play a lot of ball in high school. We’re developing a relationship early, and just having him here and just listening to the things that he has to say, whether it’s about football or it’s about just being a man, it’s been a really good thing,” Smith said.

For Smith and his teammates, the optimism on defense, and in the secondary, is awfully high right now.

“We’re definitely going to surprise some people, Smith said. “I think a lot of people are looking over us and when they get inside Jordan-Hare Stadium, It’s going to be a rude awakening.”

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