WR Smith pushing himself to be leader

All receiver Tre’Quan Smith could do was shake his head in feigned frustration about the amount of smack-talk he’s heard from defensive backs throughout the UCF football team’s spring practices.

“That’s just how our defense is. When they beat you, they’re gonna let you know they beat you and they’re gonna talk and get all in your face and our offense has to learn how to counteract that aggression,” Smith said. “I feel like that’s what our offense did really good this spring, counteracting that aggression.”

Whether you call it an attitude, swagger or just plain old confidence, UCF coach Scott Frost preached for months he needed to see more of an edge out of his offense during spring workouts.

Players and coaches alike said the offense has responded, showing significant progress during the past 13 practices leading up to the Knights’ spring game Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

Developing a chippy offense has been particularly important for the team’s more laid-back players, including Smith and quarterback McKenzie Milton.

Execution hadn’t been Smith’s chief problem since he showed off his circus-like catching abilities helped him win American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year honors in 2015.

Along with more consistency in production, coaches continued to challenge Smith to become more of a vocal leader for what will be a largely young group of receivers this season.

“My team really needs me to talk up, so I’m working on that,” Smith said.

Offensive coordinator and receivers coach Troy Walters believes Smith is capable of producing an All-American season. Smith managed to increase his production slightly (853 yards and five touchdowns) despite picking up the nuances of a completely different offense.

“The way he’s practiced this spring, he’s practiced at All-American standards,” said Walters, a former All-American and Biletnikoff winner at Stanford. “For him, it’s just to continue to take those standards into the summer time and just keep working and grinding. I expect not only all-conference teams but I think he can be an All-American, one of the best in the country.”

Smith is setting big goals for himself on the field next season. With graduation coming up for him in December, he hasn’t ruled out foregoing his final year of eligibility to make an NFL run.

“It’s on the back of my mind,” Smith said of the NFL. “But my mom always says to focus on my degree, and [I’ve] got a lot of coaches back home saying make sure you get your degree before you do anything.”

That goal is still a ways off, with UCF still in the process of building its new offensive system under Frost, who will enter his second season this fall.

Walters said Smith and Milton have been two of the most consistent performers for the offense dubbed UCFast, handling about three to four new plays coaches added in this spring. But there is still much room for improvement.

“We’re getting faster every day, but we just gotta get it to where it’s second nature so when we see a signal, we know to line up, we know exactly where each O-lineman is lined up, each receiver is lined up and we need all 11 guys to know that and what each person’s assignment is,” Milton said. “I think when we get to that point, we’ll move rapid fast.”