With the class of 2014 a part of Penn State history now, only the few fifth year seniors left on the roster ever played for Joe Paterno.  OT Donovan Smith was one of those final few players who were directly influenced by the former coach, and he let it be known during has post-NFL draft interview after being taken No. 34 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He says he promised Paterno he would earn his degree in only three and a half years, and he kept himself to that word.

“Sitting down with [Paterno] on my official visit. He told me to get my degree in three and a half years,” Smith said. “I wanted to stay true to what I said. I shook his hand on that in his living room, and I wanted to get my degree in three and a half years.”

Smith also spoke about his time at Penn State, saying all the adversity in recent years “brought us together more than people might have even thought of.”

You can watch the full interview below, or read this one, where Coach Franklin calls Smith a “dancing bear.”