Smith savors chance to speak his mind

HOOVER | Braden Smith faced his first reporter of the of SEC Media Days Thursday morning and greeted him with an unusual salutation.

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"You didn't expect to see me here, did you," Smith said plainly.

The reporter laughed. He didn't expect it — at all.

Smith, a senior who shuttles between right guard and right tackle, is said by teammates to be one of the most fascinating players on the team. Around reporters, however, Smith often refrains from saying much of anything and comes across as someone who'd be wholly disinterested in an event like this. Cameras? Bright lights? Microphones in his face? Banal questions from reporters he's never seen before and never will see again?

It's a high-intensity event that even the most seasoned orators consider an annoyance.

Yet Smith said he was enthusiastic about representing himself and Auburn Thursday. And even those who know Smith best were surprised; coach Gus Malzahn twice confirmed with Smith that he'd actually agreed to participate.

"I’m not the most talkative guy, so when he asked me he probably was thinking I wouldn’t say yes," Smith said. "I was like: I definitely want to do it. I think some people kind of underestimate me. Some people say, 'He ain’t going to talk at all.' Basically, I had no worries about this. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Smith is very much in demand these days. A senior who has started 27 consecutive Auburn games, Smith was a major asset at guard throughout the 2016 season. He consistently drives opponents backward in the run game and frequently displays ruthless finishing that emasculates defensive tackles.

However, the Tigers currently have a glut of guards and a dearth of tackles. Smith, who currently stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 303 pounds, agreed to slide outside to tackle heading into spring ball. His work there has been above standard by all accounts — and Malzahn said Thursday that Smith enters fall camp as a prospective starter at tackle.

When people ask Smith which position he plays, what does he tell them?

"I play anywhere they need me," Smith said.

He insinuated that he'll need more repetitions at tackle before feeling fully comfortable there, but Auburn doesn't open its season for another seven weeks. Practice begins July 31.

Smith believes this offensive line, no matter where he fits into it, has a chance to be special. An excess of healthy, qualified competitors assures great competition.

"We have lots of depth, so that’s going to be really key," Smith said. "We have lots of players who can step in and fill a role if needed. There are no worries about depth; we should be pretty solid."