Two-time Pro Bowler uses strong statement to confirm what everyone already knew about former Tennessee Vols OL Trey Smith
Tennessee Vols fans and Kansas City Chiefs fans undoubtedly have one thing in common. Both fan bases have a high level of appreciation for offensive lineman Trey Smith. Smith, a former Tennessee standout selected by the Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, is beloved by both fan bases for being a […]
Tennessee Vols fans and Kansas City Chiefs fans undoubtedly have one thing in common.
Both fan bases have a high level of appreciation for offensive lineman Trey Smith.
Smith, a former Tennessee standout selected by the Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, is beloved by both fan bases for being a tremendous human and arguably one of the toughest players in the NFL.
The former Vol competes through the whistle on a regular basis, he doesn't take plays off, and he's earned a reputation for bullying opposing defensive linemen.
Chiefs offensive lineman Creed Humphrey, a two-time Pro Bowler, was asked this week what makes Smith such a tough player for defensive linemen to go up against.
Humphrey suggested that Smith is the most physical offensive lineman in the NFL while answering the question.
"Well, first, physicality," said Humphrey when asked about Smith. "He's probably the most physical lineman in the league. He loves getting after guys, putting guys on the ground and getting after them. Just the physicality that he brings. And also, the mental prep that he does throughout the week to be able to see things as it's happening, before it's happening, pre-snap, post-snap, all of those things. He does a great job with it. And like I said, he understands schemes well and concepts well and what we're trying to do against the [defensive look] that's given to us."
"It fires us up," added Humphrey when asked about Smith playing through the whistle. "It makes everybody else play with that much more of an edge. When you see it on the film, you see your guy doing that, it's kind of infectious. It makes you want to do it, too. It kind of turns into a competition to see who can do it the most on the field. Trey usually wins. It turns into a competition. He just does such a great job and he brings so much energy to the room and gets guys fired up. It's a lot of fun to play with him."
Smith, who fell to the sixth round in the 2021 NFL Draft due to concerns over blood clots he dealt with in college (something that hasn't been issue at all for Smith in the NFL), is set to be a free agent after the 2024 season.
After failing to reach an agreement on a contract extension with the Chiefs this past offseason, Smith is expected to become of the top paid guards in the NFL when free agency gets underway next spring.
