South Carolina Cornerback Cam Smith on His Versatility: ‘I Feel Like I Have an Advantage With That'
INDIANAPOLIS - South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith spoke with media members at the NFL Combine on Thursday about a variety of topics.
When asked about how NFL teams may respond to him showing he can play both in the slot and outside, Smith elaborated on how he feels that could give him an advantage with an NFL team at the next level.
"(They'll) just see the type of versatility," Smith said. "A lot of corners are not going to get off the island, don't want to get in the slot (and) guard the little dude (or) the little quick dude, so I feel like I've got an advantage with that."
There aren't a ton of NFL cornerbacks who can play both inside and outside, so the ability to play in both areas could certainly be beneficial to Smith as teams around the league evaluate the talented cornerback.
When asked about the best wide receiver he went up against last season, Smith immediately said Tennessee's Jaylin Hyatt and mentioned how facing him helped improve his abilities and technique.
"I (felt) like me and him (went) back and forth the whole time," Smith said. "Just guarding him, staying with him the whole game and challenging him. I feel like he made me a lot better."
Smith welcomed the matchup against Hyatt, noting that he wanted to line up across from the talented wideout as often as possible when South Carolina faced Tennessee in that game.
"We came in, I said 'yeah, put me on him. I want that,'" Smith said. "That's what I love to do."
While Smith acknowledged he wants to build his own legacy, he did mention a current Indianapolis Colts cornerback Stephon Gilmore as someone he looks up to.
"I always grew up watching Stephon (Gilmore) at South Carolina and with the Patriots and the Colts, so I've just always been around him," Smith said.
