Commodores wary of Wake Forest cornerback Smith

Vanderbilt coaches did not need to look at game film to know the type of challenge Wake Forest cornerback Alphonso Smith presents.

All they needed to do was look back to last season’s game against the Deamon Deacons when Smith, the school’s all-time leader in interceptions, picked off a pair of passes, including one on the first play of the game.

“Alphonso Smith at corner is just a disaster waiting to happen for the offense,” VU coach Bobby Johnson said. “He’s very opportunistic and does a great job.”

Smith’s pick of Mackenzi Adams to start last year’s contest – a 31-17 Wake Forest victory—actually was his second of the year on the first offensive snap. In the season-opener he did the same thing to Boston College and its quarterback Matt Ryan, the first overall choice in the most recent NFL draft.

His second interception against Vanderbilt – off Richard Kovalchek at the Wake Forest 3-yard line – gave him a school-record eight for the season, which also was tops in the country for 2007. He finished the contest with five tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble and one sack in addition to the two interceptions.

He has added team-high five interceptions this season, which has raised his career total to 19, one short of the Athletic Coast Conference record.

Additionally, he leads the Deamon Deacons in punt return yards and is fourth in kickoff return yards.

“He’s the D.J. (Moore) of the ACC – hands-down,” Commodores’ wide receiver Jamie Graham said. “I’ve watched a few games of him. I’ve been in the film room … he’s a good player. He’s quick. He’s just a good player.”

The 5-foot-9, fifth-year senior has not been a fast starter in games only.

As a freshman in 2005, he was one of three Wake Forest players who started every game on defense. The first of those was against Vanderbilt at Groves Stadium, the same site and opponent of his final regular-season game Saturday (6 p.m, ESPNU).

That day, he broke up three Jay Cutler passes and made six tackles. He finished the year as a multiple All-America selection.

“It's kind of ironic that we started things at Groves against Vanderbilt and now our last snap at Groves will be against Vanderbilt,” Smith said. “It's going to be fun.”

Graham agrees.

“When you play against somebody like that, somebody of his caliber, you want to go out and play extra hard,” the redshirt-freshman said. “It makes you want to play even harder because you feel like you have something extra to prove and you don’t want him to outdo you.

“He’s a pretty good player. We go against D.J. every day in practice, so I’m pretty sure we’ll be ready for (Smith).”

They certainly should know what to expect.