Through his high school career, edge rusher Jared Smith quickly became one of the most highly touted players in the 2025 recruiting class.
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Smith played for two talented programs, going through Spain Park with Tim Vakakes as his head coach before heading over to Thompson and playing for Mark Freeman as a senior. Through those two stops, he won his fair share of games and learned a lot of lessons.
When asked about the lessons he learned from playing under Freeman though, one thing stuck out to him.
“When I got to Thompson, I didn't really know how to practice,” Smith said. “Just going every day and learning how to practice and how to prepare for games—he really helped me with that.”
Now in his second year on the Plains, Smith is taking what he got from his season as a true freshman and molding it to be a major factor on the defensive front as a sophomore.
There is one part that he is molding specifically though, which has helped him in other areas.
“Really, my urgency,” Smith said. “My urgency between plays. I can always be better. Just the little stuff for me.”
Smith only recorded a small round of stats during his first season, putting up five tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and one forced fumble.
As he looks around and is learning from the more experienced veterans on a daily basis, one person that comes to mind who has taught him a great deal is Ole Miss transfer Da’Shawn Womack. With him, it has been all about leveling up the intensity.
“He's been in college for a while,” Smith said. “Learning from him. During (individuals), he just goes so hard. If I'm watching him go hard, why don't I go hard?”
His work on urgency has not just been a direct result of learning from players though. It’s also been about the way he has been coached.
Smith’s position coach, Coleman Hutzler, has complimented his willingness to work and improve, as he is constantly building himself to match the physical gifts he already has.
“He really did some good things in the off season, came into fall camp with the right attitude,” Hutzler said. “Man, 6-foot-6 and flipping long arms, but still have the athleticism, the twitch. He's been blessed with a ton. And he's continuing to work to refine those things, right, and maximize all those tools that he was blessed with. So that's been the fun part, to see his growth.”
Smith admits it is tough coaching that Hutzler does, and the same goes for Defensive Coordinator DJ Durkin.
When Durkin critiques the line, Smith feels the intensity. He knows at the end of the day though, that fiery attitude Durkin has towards wanting to get things right will prepare him better for the season.
“Every day, it's tough love,” Smith said. “That's getting me ready for the season, getting ready for the next level. It's hard coaching.”
Heading towards the team’s second team scrimmage on Wednesday in Jordan-Hare Stadium, Smith has worked on a lot each day.
When it’s all said and done though, everything circles back to one trait—intensity, which is what he wants to showcase on the field.
“Urgency. Urgency. That's really it. Urgency to the ball,” Smith said.
Auburn Undercover is an independent Auburn sports media company covering Auburn athletics, recruiting and insider news.
