Diet change helps Vikings safety Harrison Smith prep for season

EAGAN, Minn. (KMSP) - A slimmer Harrison Smith at Vikings minicamp caught the attention of reporters and fans, but the safety says he’s never felt better. Smith sat down with Fox 9 Sports’ Dawn Mitchell to discuss diet, staying fit and getting back to work.

“I like to try to keep weight off in the off-season, instead of gaining it and trying to get it off in time for training camp,” said Smith. “I kind of just changed up my diet a little bit, running and working out. We have a great nutrition staff here.”

He says he hasn’t made any major changes and has only lost about four to five pounds.

“I just basically eat when I’m hungry, work out,” said Smith. “I don’t like to get too scientific with it. I just like to go off feel and I feel really good right now.”

When it comes down to it, he says it’s about keeping up with the opposition on the field.

“I want to be quick in and out of cuts," he said. "In our league today, there is a lot of spread formations, quicker guys, so I have to cover a lot to blitz a lot, do a lot of things. As long as I still have my strength, I can go play the run, blitz, then I’m ready to go.”

As for that tough NFC Conference Championship loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Smith says he is ready to move forward.

“We all carry experiences with us and learn from them and that’s what makes us better football players,” said Smith. “So you have to not dwell and hold on to things, but you have to learn from the past, whether good or bad. So personally, I do that because I want to improve in the future. So, I don’t need any more motivation, any more anger. Every time I step on the field, I’m going to give everything I have.”