The intensity that enables Harrison Smith to personify Harry the Hitman in games begins with a focused preparation.

The fourth-year pro hits the weight room hard and the playbook harder each week because he knows what he and the Vikings are up against.

"In the NFL, there's so many good players each week, if you're not doing everything you can to prepare for them, then you're going to be in trouble," Smith said during a Vikings Prime production. "You have the best of the best going at it every week so you've just always got to be ready and when it comes time to make plays, you've got to make them."

Smith has made plenty already this season. He leads the Vikings with 57 tackles, including 33 solo, leaving marks on opponents each week.

The versatile player adds a dynamic quality to Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer's system. He can cover, he can blitz and he can certainly tackle. Smith has an interception and a sack on the season, bringing his career totals to 11 interceptions and 5.0 sacks in 47 games.

"What else could you possibly want to be doing?" Smith asked. "Every week you're playing against Pro Bowl receivers, Pro Bowl tight ends, Pro Bowl running backs," We're all just going to keep raising each other's game. Otherwise, they're going to find new guys."

Make sure to visit vikings.com/probowl to vote S Harrison Smith into this year's Pro Bowl.