Penn State Football: Brandon Smith leaves underrated legacy

There might be no better example of a class for Penn State football, than Brandon Smith. The senior aided the Nittany Lions when they needed it most.

Reliability and consistency become undervalued qualities when people look at athletes. Sometimes those two traits mean more than anything when it comes to playing time. Penn State football needed a linebacker multiple times throughout the last two seasons, and the senior walk-on Brandon Smith came through.

Smith played in just three games in his first three years on campus. Even though, he didn’t get much time early, he stuck with James Franklin, and it paid off. He played in 25 games over the next two seasons and became an every down contributor. Smith didn’t look like he’d ever get a starting job, but he’d found a productive niche.

In 2016, he appeared in all 14 games, started two and compiled 54 tackles, 3.5 for loss and two interceptions. He seemed to come up with momentum-changing plays and regularly played quality football.

After a solid first year on the field, fans expected him to make a similar impact in year two. He came up big again recording 62 tackles and 2.5 for loss. Smith had achieved greatness just by playing every Saturday after walking on. Regardless, it’s his final four games of the season that made him the ultimate team player.

When Manny Bowen was suspended prior to the Rutgers’ game, Penn State football needed a starter that could fill in admirably. Smith did one better and tallied 35 tackles in four games including 10 and 13 against Rutgers and Nebraska.

His fumble recovery on the hook-and-lateral play against Washington sealed the best season in more than a decade for the Nittany Lions. He went unheralded and unmentioned, because that’s his mentality. Smith is a bring-your-lunchpale-to-work guy.

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Smith’s teammate’s response to his message to the team says everything. No one reacted poorly to the talk, and they respected where he came from. Head coach James Franklin lives for guys like Smith. Hard workers, who show up to work, lead and don’t complain (Video Courtesy of CBS Sports).