Smith's presence can only make Godfrey better

I have been hearing a lot of nervous chatter amongst the Godfrey faithful about recent-signee DaMarcus Smith.

Certainly, no one is saying that the addition of the four-star quarterback prospect from Louisville is a bad thing. But their reaction is far from positive.

Why?

Those in the Jeff Godfrey fan club worry that Smith will compete for the starting job. Others believe there is no way Godfrey will be overthrown.

An article in Louisville's Courier-Journal quoted Smith as saying that Godfrey will be moving to receiver. Godfrey's name, however, was used in parenthesis, meaning the reporter likely assumed Smith meant Godfrey when he was referring to a non-specific quarterback.

It is more likely that Smith was talking about Calabrese, the initial starting quarterback last season, who is moving to receiver.

Smith, who was originally committed to Charlie Strong and Louisville (remember the hire Charlie Strong movement?) de-committed after higher-rated Miami prospect Teddy Bridgewater signed with the Cardinals. Smith then signed with UCF and George O'Leary, who undoubtedly wooed him with playing time.

Does that mean the Knights will have a freshman quarterback starting two years in a row? Not necessarily, it just means he will get to play, whether it be this year, next year, or the year after that.

Playing under a sophomore Godfrey is a much better situation than a competition between two young  freshman quarterbacks. That guaranteed playing time that O'Leary promised? At least one year ... after Godfrey has moved on.

It could be two years if Godfrey skips his senior year for the NFL. I'm not saying it will happen, but O'Leary, like a good coach, is prepared. After all, it is better to start a junior than rely on recruiting the next Godfrey.

Smith will not be redshirted because he would have just remained a Cardinal if that was the plan. He could be used in wild-Knight packages like Calabrese was.

Calabrese could be moved to receiver in order to get more value out of his athleticism, as well as fill in the holes left by the graduating class.

Keep it real, folks. While Godfrey has already achieved so much, it has only been one year. He could regress, or simply not progress. It is easy to drink the Kool-Aid now.

And remember when he got hurt? With no depth at quarterback, the offense sputtered. You need depth at the most important position on the field, and Smith provides that. Yes, last year's Blake Bortles will be eligible to play this season, but Smith is a similar athlete to Godfrey who can run the same offense.

Competition is good. It is the heart of capitalism, the heart of innovation and the heart of motivation. Smith's presence can only make Godfrey better. And by some slim chance that Smith does beat out Godfrey — what's wrong with starting a better player?

Godfrey is not going to lose his job, though. He was the fifteenth-highest rated passer in the country, led the Knights to their best season ever and first bowl victory and is a fan-favorite.

In Godfrey we trust.