When Kelvin Smith began his Syracuse football career as a redshirt freshman in 2003 behind senior outside linebacker Jameel Dumas, he knew it was going to be tough to earn playing time.

That was until Dumas sustained what turned out to be a season-ending knee injury in the opener at North Carolina. Quickly, an inexperienced Smith was thrust into the starting lineup, a place he hasn’t left since.

This season, Smith will continue his streak of 23 straight starts as middle linebacker, a position he played at North Rockland High School in Thiells.

‘The middle linebacker is probably the most important spot on the defense,’ Smith said. ‘We have to set everybody up on defense. There’s definitely more responsibility in the middle.’

Over the last two seasons, Smith has amassed 121 tackles and four sacks at outside linebacker opposite senior Kellen Pruitt. But after 2004’s tackles leader, Jerry Mackey, sustained an injury that kept him out of spring practice, head coach Greg Robinson decided to give Smith a shot at his old position.

‘It was easy,’ Smith said of the switch. ‘It was a hard transition for me to play outside linebacker, but this was easy.’

Smith said the middle linebacker has to be more aware on the field, recognizing offensive formations and making reads. So far, though, the move has been good for the Orange.

‘K.J. (Smith)’s had a very good camp,’ Robinson said. ‘He had a good spring ball and I like him there (at middle linebacker). I think it’s a good position for him.’

Familiar spot

Last season, Orange fans may have questioned why Steve Gregory, SU’s best cornerback in 2003, moved to wide receiver, a position he hadn’t taken any snaps at in college.

Gregory, one of SU’s speediest players, never thought twice about it, though. He wanted to do anything he could to help his team. This season, he will move back to his natural position of cornerback, where he started 20 games in his freshman and sophomore years at SU.

‘At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to (move to receiver),’ Gregory said. ‘Then I thought about it and I became open to the change. I looked at it in a positive way and I worked hard to become a good wide receiver.’

When head coach Greg Robinson came to SU, he allowed Gregory to play whichever position he preferred. This summer, Gregory regained a starting role on the depth chart at the position he made 111 tackles with four interceptions in 2002 and 2003.

‘I feel comfortable right now,’ Gregory said. ‘I feel like I’m playing well. Everything comes back really naturally. The defense definitely is different. We’re learning new stuff, but this position is pretty much the same.’

Whether or not he pulls a Deion Sanders and lines up for the occasional snap on offense remains to be seen. ‘There’s no sign of it yet but who knows,’ Gregory said. ‘Those guys (at wide receiver) are doing a great job.’

Robinson ready to go

Two-a-day practices ended for the football team on Friday, and after having Sunday off, SU is in full preparation for West Virginia on Sept. 4.

On Friday, Robinson said he was pleased with the August workouts and the enthusiasm from his team.

‘It’s time to come to an end,’ he said. ‘There was some real enthusiasm at the end. I have no problem with their efforts. They’re really making progress.’

This and that…

Robinson is expected to name a starting place kicker today. This weekend, SU held a kicking scrimmage. The competition is between sophomore Ricky Krautman, freshman Patrick Shadle and walk-on freshman John Barker. … Don’t be surprised if freshman Bruce Williams earns his way into the wide receiver rotation. Robinson has consistently mentioned his progress over the last couple of weeks. ‘I’ll tell you what,’ Robinson said. ‘I keep mentioning Bruce Williams. This guy’s like clockwork. He’s really making an impression on me.’ Robinson is also expected to name the backup running back today.

Published on August 28, 2005 at 12:00 pm