Since Deion Smith scored a touchdown in the Buffaloes’ opener against Northern Colorado, he has been relatively quiet. That was until Saturday when the sophomore reminded Buffs fans how good he can be in short yardage situations.
Smith may not be the biggest tailback at 6-foot even and 190 pounds, but his quickness and intelligence were noticeable against USC. With just over a yard from the goal line, Colorado brought Smith in and he showed enough patience to get the job done.
“It was our goal line package and I knew had outside zone,” Smith said. “By the time I got the ball, it just looked clouded. There were a lot of people on the edge and I felt like I had a better chance out-running them to the edge than trying to pound it.”
.@DeionS20 finishes the drive with a 1-yd TD 🦬#GoBuffs
📺 Pac-12 Network
📱 https://t.co/pKLx54JxxN pic.twitter.com/nvMgxo6S9Z— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) October 2, 2021
The touchdown brought Colorado somewhat back into the game by cutting USC’s lead to 20-7.
“It was definitely a huge confidence booster,” Smith said. “I didn’t feel completely great about the touchdown just because of the outcome of the game, but it was still a great experience. I felt like I was contributing in a way, helping my offense try to get something going.”
Smith added that he is confident in short yardage situations but wants to succeed whenever his opportunities come. He finished the USC game with 12 yards on seven carries.