Smythe Ready For Last Ride
As Notre Dame tight end Durham Smythe prepares for his last collegiate game, the 6-foot-5, 257-pounder wants to see consistency from the offense in Monday’s Citrus Bowl matchup against LSU.
“The first thing that jumps out is consistency in both facets of the game,” Smythe said when asked about his keys to the game. “From the film we have watched of LSU, they’re an extremely talented bunch across the board. They’re one of the faster defenses that we’ve seen.
“We have to get our job done on every play in both facets.”
The Iris have already faced Georgia and Stanford, which are known for giving offenses a ton to think about, but LSU is also in that category. Smythe believes they will see multiple looks on January 1st.
“They mix it up a bit,” stated Smythe. “They throw in some under fronts, but it’s things we’ve seen before. They just switch it up in different ways.”
Smythe believes the staff has captured the attention of the team and the Irish know it’s a big game for the program. The fifth-year senior also echoed many players and felt the extra time off benefited them greatly.
“It’s something I’ve seen throughout this entire bowl prep,” Smythe said of a rejuvenated and locked in team. “It started during our first practice, so I think the guys have really come back after a long season and really taken this challenge of really focusing on LSU for the entire month.”
When it comes to his own production, the Texas native doesn’t feel any extra pressure to produce with tight end Alizè Mack out along with receivers Chase Claypool and Kevin Stepherson.
“We do have some guys down with injuries and such,” explained Smythe. “You don’t approach it any differently. I’ve had that mentality throughout the season. You never know when someone is going to be needed.”
“We’ll be ready.”
One welcome sight has been the return of a healthy Josh Adams. Smythe has noticed the extra jump in Adams step recently.
“It’s a thing for running backs across the country,” said Smythe. “Guys who were getting 20 carries a game, it definitely takes a toll on them. A couple of weeks off is good for anybody, but especially for guys getting hit 20 or 30 times a game.
“I have seen him come back a little bit. He does look like the healthy back he was.”
Notre Dame’s other big-time offensive threat has also made progress in the last few weeks. Smythe was confident quarterback Brandon Wimbush had taken a few steps forward, and Monday could be a nice cap to the season for the first-year starter.
“He’s had a great bowl prep,” Smythe stated. “When Brandon practices well, he plays well, so that’s something to be excited about. He’s progressed throughout the season, but over these last 15 practices, it’s been really big for him too. People forget he’s still a rather young quarterback in his first year starting.”
Adams and Wimbush producing will be key to Notre Dame returning to South Bend with a win and a 10th win would mean everything to Smythe.
“It would mean a lot to us,” said Smythe. “We talk a lot about how 10 wins is a rare thing to accomplish. Only eight or nine teams get it done each year. This team has come far since January, and we’ve kind of turned the tide around a little bit. It’d be awesome to go out and get that 10th win, and it’s something we’ve earned over the course of the year.”
While Smythe is focused on getting a win, he’s also taking a step back and enjoying one final week with his teammates and best friends.
“More than anything, it’s just spending time with the guys,” Smythe explained when asked about his last game week. “When you have one week left with everyone as a team, it kind of hits you that it’s the last time I’ll see these guys on a consistent basis.
“All the events here are awesome and allow us to hang out with each other.”
Smythe will head home after the Citrus Bowl for a short break, but he will then head to the West Coast to start training for the Reese’s Senior Bowl and hopefully the NFL Combine.
“After the game, I’ll head to Texas for a few days,” said Smythe. “I will head out to San Diego to train for the coming months.”