Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (7) walks off the field when the Terps lost to Penn State, 31-30, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Oct. 24, 2015.

Terrapins football defensive end Yannick Ngakoue had heard about “the pass-rush guru” — the former All-Pro defensive end from Atlanta who’d been training prospective professionals for years, imparting lessons learned from his nine years in the NFL.

So when Ngakoue learned the Terps were shifting to a 4-3 defense and he’d be transitioning from linebacker to defensive end, he decided to test the validity of those rumors. He wanted to meet Chuck Smith.

This past summer, Ngakoue dipped into his savings, packed his bags and traveled to Atlanta. The results have been impressive. After two promising years with the Terps, the Bowie native has emerged as one of the leaders of the defense and is quickly approaching the program’s single-season sacks record.

“[Smith’s] a unique guy that talks about pass rush 24/7,” Ngakoue said. “It’s helped. It’s obviously working.”

READ MORE: Derwin Gray set make first career start

After a summer working with Smith, Ngakoue has recorded 26 tackles and a team-high 10.5 sacks through eight games.

Yesterday, reporters asked Ngakoue questions pertaining to his personal achievements: Do you think about being a potential All-American? Do you think about going to the NFL?

Ngakoue’s answer was uniform: No.

“At the end of the day, I want to go down in history of being a player that’s been to a bowl game consecutive times,” Ngakoue said. “I came here my first year, we went to a bowl game and we played against Marshall. Last year, we played against Stanford, and it would be great for my junior year to be able to go to a bowl game.”

To qualify for a bowl this year, the Terps need to win all four of their remaining contests, starting with Saturday’s homecoming bout against Wisconsin.

The Badgers come to College Park with an average of 409.3 yards per game, fifth-best in the Big Ten.

After Ngakoue compiled a combined 18 tackles for loss at linebacker the past two seasons, Terps coaches asked him to slide up to the line. He’d played there some in high school, but it took adjusting.

“Going through the transition of being a stand-up guy to putting his hand in the ground, it’s been a bit of a transition,” defensive coordinator Keith Dudzinski said. “He’s done a great job.”

Smith’s training proved valuable in the switch. Ngakoue worked on his spinning and learned how to chop block. And their relationship hasn’t ended with Ngakoue back in College Park — he said he still keeps in touch with Smith.

Plus, the junior has spent extra time in the film room with assistant coach Chad Wilt, who has provided a bevy of tips.

Cornerback Will Likely said Ngakoue’s mentality has an infectious effect on the rest of the team.

“He’s hungry. He’s one of those type of people that you don’t have to look around and see what he’s doing,” Likely said. “You can bet if you don’t see him, he’s probably out on the field working out or something.”

Ngakoue didn’t even know that he’s 2.5 sacks away from tying the program’s single-season sacks record until Wednesday. A team official had to tell him.

For Ngakoue, it’s all about the team. Whether he’s staring down the quarterback crouched with his hands on his thighs or his hand planted in the dirt, the end goal remains the same.

“I just want us to win to try to get to a bowl game,” Ngakoue said. “I would trade in the stats to get some wins.”