Like any prospect of Shaq Smith’s caliber or player with his potential might be, Smith was disappointed at the beginning of this season after learning he would redshirt.

Looking back on his redshirt freshman season at the end of it, however, the former five-star recruit couldn’t be happier about the way things turned out.

“It’s one of the best things that ever happened to me,” Smith said last week during the Fiesta Bowl Media Day in Paradise Valley, Ariz. “I’m definitely grateful for the coaches redshirting me and seeing the opportunity. Of course I didn’t see it in the beginning, but I think I adapted to it very fast. I took the best and ran with it. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be redshirted.”

Smith, a top-10 prospect nationally coming out of high school, has grown as a player and become accustomed to the college game while opposing some of the nation’s best every day in practice.

“I’ve learned so much,” Smith said. “Every day I’m in practice, I’m going against Deshaun Watson and Wayne Gallman and Jay Guillermo. I’m going against the best of the best in college football, so I’m learning what these guys do and how they think. It’s definitely helping me prepare for my game and things like that.”

Smith, who plays Clemson’s WILL linebacker position, has learned a lot from fellow linebackers such as Ben Boulware, Kendall Joseph and Dorian O’Daniel.

Off the field, too, they have helped Smith in the mental aspect of being a college football player.

“I shoot the guys texts, I even go to their house on Friday nights,” Smith said. “When people think we’re going out, sometimes we’re just in the house, in our playbooks and taking notes and things like that.”

After all of the scout-team reps in practice during the regular season, Smith and the other redshirt freshmen were able to do a lot more this month during Clemson’s “JV” portion of the bowl practices.

Smith said he benefited from the extra work and enjoyed the opportunity to show Clemson’s coaches what they have in him as a player moving forward.

“It’s definitely been good,” Smith said, “getting back out there, being able to go live and hit some guys and being able to show the coaches what I’ve been working on all year.”

The native of Baltimore, Md., said the feedback he’s gotten from the coaches has been positive.

“They definitely can see the work that I’ve put in all season,” Smith said. “They’re impressed in me and ready for spring ball.”

As a junior at St. Frances Academy in Maryland in 2014, Smith logged 111 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks and two interceptions. After transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., for his senior season, the 6-foot-2, 240-pounder had 89 tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Those 89 tackles came in just eight games, while he had two 15-tackle games and at least one tackle for loss in seven games.

Smith has all of the tools to become a difference-maker for the Tigers in the future. But he is just taking things one step at a time as he continues to develop and prepare himself for what’s to come.

“I just want to step in and fill the role that’s needed,” Smith said when asked what he hopes to bring to the table next season. “Whatever coach V (Brent Venables) asks for me in the defense, to come out there and make sure I do my job to the best of my ability.”

Smith is thankful he was able to redshirt this year, and he looks forward to carving out a role on the team next season.

“I’m excited,” he said. “The things I have been going through all season is a great motivator, and I feel like there’s a side of me that’s ready to get back out there and compete with my brothers next year.”