Note: Story has been updated from SEC Media Days

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Texas A&M players shared what Kirby Smart was thinking when he took on Deyon “Smoke” Bouie as a transfer -- that he has the makings of a good football player.

Three Aggies players, appearing on Monday at the SEC Media Days in their self-styled “swag” sunglasses, had praise for their former teammate, who went through spring drills at UGA before parting ways with the team in the offseason.

“Smoke was a Dog, he came with that enthusiasm each and every day, and he was just eager to compete,” said Texas A&M receiver Ainias Smith. “He was a very tough competitor, he would never back down from a challenge.”

Smart had been watching Bouie since he attended UGA camp in ninth grade, and the Bulldogs offered him a scholarship and accepted his commitment out of Bainbridge High School.

Bouie de-committed, however, ultimately choosing to spend his freshman season in College Station as part of a No. 1-ranked Aggies’ Class of 2022.

“Smoke is a young guy, but he’s a guy that likes to compete,” Texas A&M defensive lineman Fadil Diggs said. “And his competitiveness is crazy. He doesn’t like losing.”

That had to make last season particularly hard for Bouie, one of only four transfers on the Georgia football team along with defensive back Tykee Smith (West Virginia) and receivers Dominic Lovett (Missouri) and RaRa Thomas (Mississippi State).

Bouie was one of four players suspended for the Aggies’ game with Miami (Fla.) for a violation of team rules, and the team struggled to a 5-7 season.

Still, Bouie had worked to impress his teammates from the jump, earning the snaps he received in the seven games he played in accumulating four tackles and a pass break-up.

“I remember the first day I saw him, and we were playing 7 on 7,” Smith said, “and he was trying to go up against all of the best, he didn’t want anyone less.”

The Bulldogs’ secondary is deep and talented, to the extent Bouie had just one tackle in the G-Day Game.

Still, he showed some talents while with Georgia.

“He gets hands on receivers,” UGA safety Javon Bullard said last spring. “Very physical at the point of attack.

Bouie was projected to be a contributor at Georgia or Smart wouldn’t have taken him as a transfer.

But as the Georgia head coach announced on Tuesday morning, things did not work out and the parties mutually agreed to part ways following spring drills.