Chicago Bears: Profile and Interview of Draft Target WR Vyncint Smith

Q&A with Vyncint Smith

Da Windy City (DWC): Being from South Carolina, I know you grew up a University of South Carolina fan.  Can you talk about what it was like to go into their Pro Day and have such a great performance?

Vyncint Smith (VS): Being young and growing up in Columbia, it was Gamecocks everywhere.  It was very intriguing to play for them.  I was recruited by them a little bit, but never anything too serious. I was recruited a little bit by them in high school and then in college when I wanted to transfer over there but that wasn’t able to happen either.  So to finally get to play on one of their fields was awesome.  I did exactly what I set out there to do which is put up good numbers and back up my tape so no team would have any second thoughts about how athletic I was.

DWC: Your head coach at Limestone College was current Bears’ wide receivers coach Mike Furrey.  Can you tell me a little about your relationship with Coach Furrey?  Have you two stayed in touch since he’s joined the Bears?

VS: We’ve been keeping pretty close.  He got to work with the receivers at the combine and he was telling me how I compared to them.  He’s always been willing to give constructive criticism so he’s been telling me what I need to work on as well.  He also sent me a really nice message the day of my pro day and that was awesome.  After he heard how I did at my pro day we talked and he was ecstatic for me.  And he was telling me he thinks I should be drafted whether it’s by them or another team.  But he definitely has been looking out for me and I appreciate that.

DWC: As a wide receiver, how appealing is it to play in an offense like Matt Nagy’s?

VS: I like aggressive play callers.  As an offensive player, you can be a little looser.  It makes you more comfortable.  It tells me he trusts his offensive players and has a gotten a good feel in practice for what his players can do.  Being able to be aggressive and having a coach expect you to make a play definitely makes you more comfortable as an offensive player.

DWC: How does your skill set fit into a West Coast offense?

VS:  I think my skill set fits in very well.  When I think of West Coast I think of play action and I feel like that gives me enough time to sell routes.  To make defenders think you’re going one way.  Especially if you have a really good run game, you can play off of that to open up the pass.  West Coast offense is definitely a tricky offense to stop when you have the right guys in place.

DWC: With precision route running being so important in a West Coast offense, how would you grade your route running ability?

VS: This past year we haven’t run too many different routes.  But when I am called on to run different routes, I give myself an eight out of ten.  I feel like I have some small things I need to work on here and there.  I feel like I am explosive and can get in and out of routes quickly.  I know how to use my body to shield defenders off the ball or send them the other way.  With coach Furrey, in practice, we ran every route almost daily and he breaks it down and tells us what we’re doing wrong.  He has us run it again and again until we get it right.  He’s a perfectionist and expects a lot out of us as players.

DWC: In previous interviews, you’ve mentioned your speed and work ethic as some of your strengths.  In addition to those, what are some other strengths you’d bring to an NFL team?  What’s the biggest thing you need to work on?

VS: I think I can fit anywhere you want to put me, whether that’s in the slot, on the outside, or on special teams.  I think I have great attention to detail to go along with my work ethic, speed, and size.  Also playing the ball over the shoulder on deep routes that’s what I think is my specialty.  But I can run slant routes, inside routes and get open on the out routes.  I can run a full route tree.  In terms of what I can work on, I can work on getting out of my breaks a little cleaner, faster and more consistent.

DWC: Who are some of the wide receivers in today’s game that you like to watch?

VS: Right now I like to watch A.J. Green because we have a similar body type.  He’s from South Carolina.  He’s tall and not too thick but he’s fast.  Can take a screen to the house, beat you over the top, runs digs and routes.  I also like to watch DeAndre Hopkins also from South Carolina.  He’s not really tall but he’s physical and always wins when the ball is in the air.  I also like Jarvis Landry.  He’s like a dog out there, he just gets the job done.  That’s one thing I’d like to work on is getting more physical in my game.  I also like to watch Odell Beckham.  He’s got speed, catches the ball with his hands.  He’s like a Madden character.

DWC: As you know, Ryan Pace has a history of drafting players from smaller schools.  What are your thoughts on the possibility of playing in Chicago?

VS: It’s intriguing definitely.  Being up in the NFC North would be fun.  That division always has really good teams.  They have a really good competition among all four teams in the division.  It would definitely be fun.  It would be a new environment for me.  I haven’t been that far North but it would definitely be fun.

DWC: On that topic, have you heard from the Chicago Bears?

VS: I’ve talked a little bit to the scouts that came during the season, but other than that it’s been quiet.  So I have to see what happens when the day comes.

DWC: What is the best advice you’ve gotten as you prepare for the NFL Draft?

VS: A couple of things.  They always say “keep your head” and don’t let outside folks change who you are.  Keep working hard.  Don’t get caught up in the noise.  It’s an up and down process.  It’s ok to make a bad play but move past it and stack good days back-to-back.  Make the roster and be open to do anything and bury your head in the playbook.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

DWC: If Coach Furrey was going to give Ryan Pace a scouting report on Vyncint Smith, what would he say?

VS: He would say I’m a hard worker.  I play the ball very well.  I have another gear when the ball is in the air.  I set a good example.  I’m a blue collar worker.  I’m raw in the sense that I have high upside.  I have good character.  I am going to show up to work every day and do anything they ask of me.  I’ll definitely be a positive influence on an organization.

Next: Bears will have new-look offense in 2018

Bottom Line

Vyncint Smith is a very engaging, fast-rising prospect whose blue-collar work ethic would fit in well in Chicago.  It remains to be seen whether the Chicago Bears will select him in this year’s draft, but he could be a mid-to-late round steal and the latest diamond in the rough for Ryan Pace.