Junior strong safety Eric Smith talks about the injuries he's suffered, and the big hits he's laid on opposing players, causing them to suffer. After starting the first game of the season on the bench due to a nagging knee injury, Smith has recovered to make 18 tackles- good enough for second on the team and eighth in the conference.

The State News: Are you healthy for this weekend after all your surgeries?

Smith: Yeah I feel good, my knee doesn't hurt anymore, so that makes it even better.

SN: How important is it to your teammates that you're on the field?

Smith: I think I give them more confidence because they don't have to think as much. They can rely on me if they don't know what's going, they can ask me how to line up. So it just makes it easier for them to play.

SN: What kind of impact does your physical play have on your teammates?

Smith: I just try to hit somebody as hard as I can and I hope it gets everybody fired up.

SN: What's been your biggest hit of the season?

Smith: I got (Central Michigan running back Jerry) Seymour pretty good on Saturday. Between us on the defense, we all try and get the biggest hit - (junior defensive end) Daryl Melvin won against Rutgers, and it was (redshirt freshman linebacker Kaleb) Thornhill last week.

SN: Is it tough to focus for night games like the one this weekend against Notre Dame?

Smith: When I was younger, playing Wisconsin, I was nervous all day and I couldn't really relax. Now right before games, I'm relaxed, going about business and focusing on what we're going to do.