MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Tykee Smith found West Virginia University's college-town atmosphere to his liking.
 
The Philadelphia native fell in love with Morgantown when he made his official visit and opted for the safe, family atmosphere West Virginia University promotes.
 
"When I first got here it was different for me being an inner-city kid coming to the country with a lot of roads," he says, chuckling. "It was a whole different lifestyle. You've got to do what you've got to do to get where you want to go."
 
Smith said he began playing football when he was 12. He actually had to sign himself up because his mother, Cassandra, had to work to provide for her family.
 
"It's only been me and my mom," Smith says. "My first year playing high school was my sophomore year. We kind of had dudes on the team so I was kind of young and played my role until it was my time to shine."
 
His opportunity to shine at Imhotep Charter High came in 2017 when was named to the All-Philadelphia Public School First Team as a two-way player. He helped Imhotep reach the Class 4A state finals and received a four-star rating by the prep scouting services.
 
Last year as a true freshman, Smith earned immediate playing time and finished the season with 53 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, three interceptions and seven pass breakups.  The Football Writers Association recognized Smith on its Freshman All-American Team.
 
So far this year, Smith has picked up right where he left off. His athletic interception in the back of the end zone was a key play in helping West Virginia beat Baylor in double-overtime last Saturday.
 
He's made 18 tackles and added a TFL for a Mountaineer defense that now ranks in the Top 20 in nearly every major statistical category, including No. 6 in total defense allowing just 268 yards per game.
 
West Virginia also has the nation's fifth-best red zone defense allowing opposing teams to score just 60% of the time whenever it reaches the 20-yard line.
 
Smith, who plays the Spear position, is a major reason why.
 
"I kind of play with a chip on my shoulder," he says. "I play with passion and I'm a physical player, just because of where I'm from. That's kind of how we live. If you aren't physical you aren't going to survive."
 
Secondary coach Jahmile Addae says Smith's natural aggressiveness really serves him well when he's out on the field.
 
"It's a lot easier to coach a guy that you have to slow down as opposed to having to speed him up," Addae says. "I think guys that see it and go get it are what we want to coach, and Tykee is one of those guys. It's definitely a plus having that type of player at that position. 
 
"It means a lot just being able to come here and play – getting an opportunity to play early," Smth adds. "The DBs before me here were called the Dawgs. You look at coach (Jahmile) Addae, Karl Joseph and some of the other DBs here and they have always been good."
 
Addae says they are really taking advantage of Smith's versatility in the Mountaineer defense this year.
 
"He does just about everything you can ask a defensive back to do, whether it be blitz, cover in man coverage or underneath zone coverage, he's asked to do quite a bit here and does an elite job at it. He really does," Addae says.
 
Smith admits his only goal this year is to be better than he was last season as a freshman.
 
"I just don't want to go downhill," he says. "It's been a big step watching myself develop going from little league being the best on my team, then going to high school and being the best on my team to now being here and being a playmaker."
 
This week's Life as a Mountaineer was produced by Sarah Ramundt and is proudly presented by our great friends at Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration.