UTEP football coach Scotty Walden has come to the defense of safety Xavier Smith after Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders took a shot at the ex-Buffaloes player on social media.
University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) football coach Scotty Walden has come to the defense of safety Xavier Smith after Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders took a shot at the ex-Buffaloes player on social media.
The issue stems from Smith's comments about Deion Sanders, Shedeur's father and the Colorado head coach, in The Athletic earlier this week. Smith, a former Buffaloes player who transferred to UTEP, said that Deion's approach to his roster overhaul last season "was destroying guys' confidence and belief in themselves."
Shedeur Sanders responded by calling Smith "mid" on social media, a term used to describe someone as average or mediocre.
Walden fired back at Sanders, saying that Smith is "the furthest thing from soft" and that he is "a great kid/player" who led the Miners to a conference title.
"He answered a question honestly in an interview and was just telling his side," Walden wrote. "He was a freshman AA and has an extremely bright future on and off the field. I am glad he is on my team – check the tape."
Walden is entering his first season with the Miners after a successful stint as head coach at Austin Peay State University.
Smith's comments to The Athletic came as part of a larger story about Deion Sanders' first season at Colorado. Smith, who was a redshirt freshman at the time, said that he was optimistic going into a meeting with Sanders, thinking that the coach would work with the younger players.
However, Smith said that Sanders told him that he should "probably hit the portal" and didn't want him to "waste a year thinking I could earn a spot."
Smith said that he was upset by Sanders' comments and that he felt that the coach had not given him a fair chance. He later transferred to UTEP.
Walden's defense of Smith comes as no surprise, as the coach has a reputation for being a strong advocate for his players. He has also been praised for his ability to develop young talent.
It remains to be seen how Smith will perform at UTEP, but he will undoubtedly be looking to prove himself after being criticized by Sanders.
