Studious Smith embraces new starting role at left tackle for Illinois State

Brandon Smith is slated to take over this fall at left tackle for Illinois State. The Indianapolis native transferred to ISU last year from FBS Western Michigan. (Photo by Barry Bottino, PrairieStatePigskin.com)

By Barry Bottino 

NORMAL – Since joining the Illinois State program in December 2023 as a transfer from FBS Western Michigan, Brandon Smith has been a student.

Last season, the 6-foot-4, 290-pound offensive lineman studied former teammate J.J. Guedet, the Redbirds’ starting left tackle.

“Learning from a guy like J.J., watching him and all the things he did last year prepared me for now,” Smith said after ISU’s spring game. “That was huge. (Left tackle) is a big role that I was willing to take on.”

Smith, a senior who was named one of the team’s most improved players after spring practices, gained more lessons during the winter months in the film room with tight ends coach C.J. Irvin and offensive line coach Harold Etheridge.

“I spent a lot of time with Coach Irvin and Coach Etheridge getting the mental side of the game down,” Smith said. “I got a lot out of this spring.”

New faces

The starting unit for the spring game not only included Smith at left tackle, but had two newcomers from Illinois high schools – Missouri transfer Jack McGarry (Hinsdale Central) and Coastal Carolina transfer Logan Brasfield (Yorkville).

McGarry, a junior, worked at center after the medical retirement of Ryan Gudaitis because of a back injury.

McGarry, whose father, John, spent the 1987 season with the Green Bay Packers, said his three seasons as a reserve at Missouri helped him transition to a new role.

“I’ve got a lot of experience,” said McGarry, who spent the past two seasons at center. “It’s a big role and I’ve got to fill it.”

He credited daily meetings with Etheridge for learning the ISU system.

“He got me on the right track and put me in position to start this year,” McGarry said.

Brasfield, a sophomore, spent one season at Coastal Carolina and played the spring at right guard for ISU.

“Having the new guys and watching how they adapted to our scheme, I didn’t know that they’d do that as fast as they did,” Etheridge said. “We installed a lot more stuff this spring than we ever have. They really grasped it, and that was good to see.”

New places

While veteran Jake Pope returns to his right tackle spot as a graduate student, ISU senior Landon Woodard has moved from right guard to left guard.

“It’s like going from right hand to left hand,” said Woodard, one of two returning starters. “There are a few things to pick up on, a few nuances, but the playbook’s the same.”

The position change has helped Woodward enhance his knowledge.

“I got to expand my toolbox as a player, and I’ve been able to be that Swiss Army knife guy and fit in where needed.”

ISU is coming off a season with more than 5,600 yards of total offense, including nearly 2,300 on the ground. That trend is something Woodard and his fellow linemen would like to see continue.

“I’d like to see us run the ball a lot, of course,” he said with a laugh. “We had guys who really got into the playbook and got into the film (this spring). We can really understand the offense and execute.”

Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.

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