Reliability and consistency become undervalued qualities when people look at athletes. Sometimes those two traits mean more than anything when it comes to playing time. Penn State football needed a linebacker multiple times throughout the last two seasons, and the senior walk-on Brandon Smith came through.
Smith played in just three games in his first three years on campus. Even though, he didn’t get much time early, he stuck with James Franklin, and it paid off. He played in 25 games over the next two seasons and became an every down contributor. Smith didn’t look like he’d ever get a starting job, but he’d found a productive niche.