19-year-old Smith assumes veteran’s role

By Justin Harper

Published: August 11, 2006

NORMAN - At the ripe old age of 19 and with just one season of college football under his belt, Reggie Smith has earned an unusual title: Veteran.

Q&A with Larry Birdine
OU practice report

As he heads into his true sophomore season, the former Edmond player is young on paper, yet experienced by comparison to his Oklahoma secondary mates.

“Shoot, he’s had as many snaps as anybody else back there,” said OU secondary coach Bobby Jack Wright. “And he’s a good leader. I really like the way he’s developed a leadership mentality out there even though he’s only a sophomore. But he is a veteran in that group and that’s coming out. He gets on them and drives them pretty good. And that makes him drive himself as well.”

Smith, who played in all 12 OU games last season and started 10, does share the defensive backfield with some older guys, but none who have logged much more time on the field.

Fellow corners D.J. Wolfe, Marcus Walker and free safety Darien Williams are all juniors, but Wolfe (11 starts) has spent just one season on the defensive side of the ball and Williams (four starts in 18 games) has been primarily a reserve. Walker has played in 11 games, starting four. Backup strong safety Jason Carter is a senior who has seen action in 39 games, but has never started.

“I do feel like I’ve been around more than a year,” Smith said. “We have a young secondary, so returning starters are pretty much our most experienced guys.”

Smith is experienced in regards to time logged on the field, but he’ll be playing a new position this season, switching from strong safety to cornerback. Still, despite having never played a down at corner in college (and just a handful ever) Smith was named to the preseason watch list for the Thorpe Award, which goes to the nation’s premier defensive back.

“That must be based on potential,” Smith chuckled.

According to Wright, Smith’s inclusion on the list is warranted wherever he lines up for the Sooners.

“He’s a good athlete and good player. And I think people recognize that regardless of what position he plays,” Wright said.

The change has been a smooth one for Smith, who spent the spring at cornerback.

“Corner is harder to play, but easier to learn,” Smith said. “Safety is mentally more of a challenge, but not as much of a challenge athletically. At corner, you have to watch that one guy you’re lined up against and try to know where he’s going. But you have to play the run, too. There’s a lot more cuts and breaks. Physically, it’s a lot harder to play, I think.”

Still, it plays to Smith’s strengths.

“He’s a lot more comfortable there and I think he feels more natural at the corner position,” Wright said. “He’s a bigger guy who has just as much speed as a smaller guy. He’s got great footwork and instincts. So what you’ve got is really a great situation with a bigger corner who’s got little-guy talent and little-guy quickness. It’s nice to have a bigger corner with all the bigger wide receivers that everybody in college football is going to. That’s a big plus for us to have a guy like him back there.”

The 6-foot-1, 199-pound Smith had two interceptions last season and 47 tackles. He expects those numbers to go up with the switch.

“Corner is probably a better fit for me because it’s a position where I can use my instincts more,” Smith said. “And it should give me more of a chance to make a play on the ball.”

In another new role, Smith is also the leading candidate to return punts for the Sooners. He returned 18 kickoffs a year ago for a team-high 377 yards (20.9 average).

“Everyone tells me I’m supposed to be the guy,” Smith said. “I like returning punts, I feel real comfortable back there. It’s something I’ve done for years (prior to college). So, it’s really not a new thing.”

Not much is to a veteran. Even the 19-year-old variety.