Penn State cornerbacks coach Terry Smith called his room the deepest and most talented he has seen in 12 seasons.

During his 12-year tenure as Penn State’s cornerbacks coach, Terry Smith has built the position from the ground up. He has coached several talented defensive backs, including Joey Porter Jr. and Amani Oruwariye, and some strong units, notably the 2016 corps that helped Penn State win the Big Ten championship.

But this group might top all of them. Pro Football Focus ranks Penn State’s secondary No. 10 in college football, and Smith believes he has perhaps the best cornerback (A.J. Harris) in Penn State football history. The Nittany Lions’ secondary will be a key driver of the team’s defensive strategy and success this season.

We’re pretty talented,” Smith said. “My corner room, I think, is the best I’ve had in 12 years. I think combined [safeties and corners], we’re probably one, two or three for the best that we’ve had. There’s been a couple years where the safety room has been a little bit stronger. You know, when we had Ji’Ayir Brown and Jaquan Brisker. Like those two dudes are thriving in the NFL right now. But in my room, I have four guys that could start anywhere in the Big Ten or SEC.”

In 2014, Smith joined James Franklin’s Penn State coaching staff as cornerbacks coach and defensive recruiting coordinator. At the time, Penn State wasn’t necessarily known as a proving ground for cornerbacks. Smith made it his mission to change that narrative.