Tackling a Natural Fit for the Former Wrestling Standout
11/6/2020 12:30:00 PM | Football
“We have grown to be a brotherhood and a family. It’s become so much easier to communicate with each other when we’re on the field.” - Ryan Smenda
As a former Florida High School state wrestling champion, Wake Forest junior linebacker Ryan Smenda Jr. has been known to show his grappling skills by mixing it up with his teammates in the locker room.
"Sometimes we like to joke around in the locker room, but we can't really do that right now," Smenda said during a virtual press conference. "So, I just have to get my frustrations out on the field."
He certainly did his share of that, finishing his sophomore campaign with a team-leading 81 tackles. Heading into the season, Smenda got some preseason hype, having been named to the Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC Second Team.
Through six games this season, Smenda has 25 tackles including seven in the win over Virginia.
He has been vital in the Demon Deacons four-game winning streak. In the win at Syracuse on Saturday, the junior from Orange Park, Fla. made a pair of tackles for loss including a sack and forced fumble.
"So far it's been a little different because of Corona, but we've been pushing through," he said. "We get up every day with the mindset that we never know when we're going to get the call to shut it down. We're taking it day by day and trying to give 100 percent in practice.
"I haven't paid that much attention (to what's happened at other schools). I just wait for the information from Coach Clawson. I'm pretty confident that the other teams are doing everything within their power to play."
The Wake Forest defensive line returns seven players who earned starts a season ago, and the linebacker position might be as deep as it's been in the Clawson era.
"I think we can be really good," Smenda said. "Our front seven especially is really experienced. Once we find that true rock, that true leader of our defense, when we go out and play we feed off each other, we come together. I think we're going to be a top-five defense in the ACC.
"We have a lot of hoops to jump through in terms of finding all the rotation players, but we're in great shape in terms of depth. Coach Clawson has done a great job of keeping us healthy."
When departing senior Justin Strnad went down with a shoulder injury late last season, Ja'Cquez Williams had remarkable production and became a vocal leader.
"We have some leaders in there who are really trying to push the younger guys to get them going," Smenda said. "We're such a tight knit group, because we've been together for two-to-three years now. We have grown to be a brotherhood and a family. It's become so much easier to communicate with each other when we're on the field. The biggest piece is communication. That's how we've grown through the years."
The biggest question mark for defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill's group is at cornerback, where the Deacs have to replace two seniors who started all 13 games a season ago in Amari Henderson and Essang Bassey.
Led by the leadership of captain Ja'Sir Taylor, the backend has grown throughout the season with true freshmen Caelen Carson and Gavin Holmes growing into roles at cornerback.
"The guys in the back are younger, but it doesn't matter how old you are, you have to get in the film room and learn what you're doing," Smenda, who is one of the rare Demon Deacons to play as a true freshman, said. "When the pieces come out, and they make the checks, it's up to us to echo it whether it's right or wrong. We'd rather be wrong together, but on the same page, than have others be on the wrong page. I try to share with them to see things for how it is and just call it. We don't want them to overthink it. It's important to take it one snap at a time, and be proficient with it.
"I try to see everything as the MIKE linebacker, but if the opponent is going fast, that's going to be on them. When the other team goes fast, it becomes complicated, and will be up to the back end to make the calls."
Smenda has been comfortable with the protocols initiated at Wake Forest in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I absolutely feel safe," he said. "Number one because I trust the guys on the team to wear the mask and social distance. I also trust the medical experts who have given us the tools and these plans. I'm very confident in our plan to win and compete this year.
"We're in a Wake Forest bubble, but then we're also in a Wake Forest Football bubble. We just have to stay more than six feet away from them and keep to our own bubble. We try to not pay any mind to it."
He's pretty excited about the linebacker room that features himself, Williams, Chase Monroe, Jeff Burley, Chase Jones, Jaylen Hudson and DJ Taylor.
"Don't be surprised if all of us are out there making plays," Smenda said. "We're all good enough, know the system and play low."
"Sometimes we like to joke around in the locker room, but we can't really do that right now," Smenda said during a virtual press conference. "So, I just have to get my frustrations out on the field."
He certainly did his share of that, finishing his sophomore campaign with a team-leading 81 tackles. Heading into the season, Smenda got some preseason hype, having been named to the Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC Second Team.
Through six games this season, Smenda has 25 tackles including seven in the win over Virginia.
He has been vital in the Demon Deacons four-game winning streak. In the win at Syracuse on Saturday, the junior from Orange Park, Fla. made a pair of tackles for loss including a sack and forced fumble.
"So far it's been a little different because of Corona, but we've been pushing through," he said. "We get up every day with the mindset that we never know when we're going to get the call to shut it down. We're taking it day by day and trying to give 100 percent in practice.
"I haven't paid that much attention (to what's happened at other schools). I just wait for the information from Coach Clawson. I'm pretty confident that the other teams are doing everything within their power to play."
The Wake Forest defensive line returns seven players who earned starts a season ago, and the linebacker position might be as deep as it's been in the Clawson era.
"I think we can be really good," Smenda said. "Our front seven especially is really experienced. Once we find that true rock, that true leader of our defense, when we go out and play we feed off each other, we come together. I think we're going to be a top-five defense in the ACC.
"We have a lot of hoops to jump through in terms of finding all the rotation players, but we're in great shape in terms of depth. Coach Clawson has done a great job of keeping us healthy."
When departing senior Justin Strnad went down with a shoulder injury late last season, Ja'Cquez Williams had remarkable production and became a vocal leader.
"We have some leaders in there who are really trying to push the younger guys to get them going," Smenda said. "We're such a tight knit group, because we've been together for two-to-three years now. We have grown to be a brotherhood and a family. It's become so much easier to communicate with each other when we're on the field. The biggest piece is communication. That's how we've grown through the years."
The biggest question mark for defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill's group is at cornerback, where the Deacs have to replace two seniors who started all 13 games a season ago in Amari Henderson and Essang Bassey.
Led by the leadership of captain Ja'Sir Taylor, the backend has grown throughout the season with true freshmen Caelen Carson and Gavin Holmes growing into roles at cornerback.
"The guys in the back are younger, but it doesn't matter how old you are, you have to get in the film room and learn what you're doing," Smenda, who is one of the rare Demon Deacons to play as a true freshman, said. "When the pieces come out, and they make the checks, it's up to us to echo it whether it's right or wrong. We'd rather be wrong together, but on the same page, than have others be on the wrong page. I try to share with them to see things for how it is and just call it. We don't want them to overthink it. It's important to take it one snap at a time, and be proficient with it.
"I try to see everything as the MIKE linebacker, but if the opponent is going fast, that's going to be on them. When the other team goes fast, it becomes complicated, and will be up to the back end to make the calls."
Smenda has been comfortable with the protocols initiated at Wake Forest in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I absolutely feel safe," he said. "Number one because I trust the guys on the team to wear the mask and social distance. I also trust the medical experts who have given us the tools and these plans. I'm very confident in our plan to win and compete this year.
"We're in a Wake Forest bubble, but then we're also in a Wake Forest Football bubble. We just have to stay more than six feet away from them and keep to our own bubble. We try to not pay any mind to it."
He's pretty excited about the linebacker room that features himself, Williams, Chase Monroe, Jeff Burley, Chase Jones, Jaylen Hudson and DJ Taylor.
"Don't be surprised if all of us are out there making plays," Smenda said. "We're all good enough, know the system and play low."
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