For Notre Dame cornerback Chaston Smith, finally arriving in South Bend as a member of the Fighting Irish football program still feels a little surreal after two months.
"It's a blessing that God put me in this position,” stated Smith. “Just being up here and being a football player, I prayed for these moments. So being up here is kind of surreal, but I've got to take everything in and just learn from everybody."
The Tennessee native wants to see the field in 2026 like any young player, but he also understands that development is a key part of the process.
Fortunately for Smith, he’ll have the opportunity to learn from one of the most experienced cornerback groups in the country. Leonard Moore, Christian Gray and DJ McKinney have combined to play 5,093 snaps in college football, giving Smith and the younger defensive backs in the room a wealth of experience to study.
“Just seeing how they move, like Leonard, Christian, just learning from them is the biggest eye-opener,” explained Smith. “Learning from them, knowing everything they know. Tae Johnson, Adon (Shuler), them just taking me under their wing is the biggest eye-opener for me. Taking everything they know and just giving knowledge to me is the biggest eye-opener."
Although Notre Dame has yet to begin spring practice, the Irish have been holding football school sessions and player-led workouts. Those opportunities have allowed Smith to watch his teammates closely, including Moore, who is the top returning cornerback in the country.
"His IQ of the game and just what he knows before the play happens,” Smith said. “It's just a lot of film study, a lot of IQ behind it. Him just giving me the knowledge of what he knows and me just taking that in is something I've never seen before. It's something I'm new to, but I'm willing to learn just to get better."
Notre Dame’s recent tradition of elite defensive backs also played a role in drawing Smith to the program. Watching players like Moore, Cam Hart and Benjamin Morrison develop in the Irish secondary helped make it an easy decision.
“Seeing the guys who came through here really motivates me,” he said. “I just want to get developed and get better. And the competition in the DB room pushes everybody. Everybody’s helping each other.”
Versatility is another trait Smith prides himself on. Whether lining up at boundary corner or field corner, he believes he can contribute wherever the coaching staff needs him.
“I can do whatever the team needs me to do, whatever I need to do to help the team,” Smith stated. “Whatever the team wants me to do to help the team win.”
Team Glory is preached every day in the Notre Dame program and it starts from the top with head coach Marcus Freeman.
Smith entered the program a month after the Irish were left out of the College Football Playoff and he can feel the sense of urgency within the walls of The Gug on a daily basis as everyone is working together to make sure 2026’s outcome is different.
"It's like a hungry dog,” Smith explained. “It's like you're hungry, you want more. What happened last year, I wasn't a part of it. But I'm a part of it now. It's a team thing. I wasn't there last year. It's a team thing. I'm a part of the team. Team Glory. Just being a part of that, I definitely feel it. Coming in, I want to do whatever is best to help the team get to where they want to be."
The 6-foot, 169-pounder also experienced when college football hits you in the face.
Smith had committed to play for Mike Mickens, but saw his position coach leave for the NFL and now he’ll play for Aaron Henry.
"It's been a great transition with Coach Henry,” Smith stated. “Teaching me techniques that I've never been taught before. He's just breaking habits and teaching good habits. Coach Henry is really just developing me, even though he didn't recruit me. Knowing he didn't recruit me, just him taking me in like he did. He already knew me, it's a great feeling. He's just a figure that I can look up to."
Whether it’s this year or in the future, Smith knows the expectation at Notre Dame and he’s embracing the culture every day he walks into The Gug.
"It's a player-led team,” said Smith. “The coaches, they do a great job of just fixing the small things. When they see everybody getting off track, they're going to make sure everybody's back on track. It's a great mix of both coaches and players.
“The players, everybody's going to hold each other accountable. When somebody slips off, we're going to make sure they get right back on. I like that."
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