Reggie
Smith on Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list: Oklahoma cornerback Reggie Smith has been named to
watch list for the 2007 Bronko Nagurski Trophy,
awarded annually to the best defensive player in
college football by the Football Writers
Association of America. Smith is one of 49 players
on the initial list. A junior, Smith was a
first-team All-Big 12 selection by the Associated
Press and a second-team pick by league coaches. (NewsOK.com)
March 19, 2007
Bobby Jack Wright would like to alternate corners: [Reggie] Smith and Marcus Walker are slotted as
the starters this spring, with Lendy Holmes and
once-ostracized D.J. Wolfe in backup roles. Among
them, only Smith has started fewer than 11 games
at cornerback during his career. "Our plan will be
now, during the course of a ballgame, will be able
to alternate by every two or three series," said
OU secondary coach Bobby Jack Wright. "Then you've
always got fresh corners out there. And good
corners. "It's not like there's nobody over there
anymore." (NewsOK.com)
December 12, 2006
Reggie at WR in the Fiesta Bowl? The Sooners' early season experiment of
occasionally playing sophomore defensive back
Reggie Smith at wide receiver didn't last long.
Smith got only a few snaps at receiver and none
after the fourth game of the year. But could the
experiment be reborn, possibly for the Fiesta
Bowl? "We'll see," Smith said. "I've been talking
to (receivers coach Kevin) Sumlin, trying to get
me in there. We'll see what happens." (NewsOK.com)
December 1, 2006
Current
Sooners met at Nebraska: Oklahoma
defensive backs Nic Harris and Reggie Smith were
friends before they became teammates. The
sophomores met during the recruiting process.
"First time I met Reggie, we were both on a visit
to Nebraska," Harris said. "As a matter of fact,
we were over at the safeties' house, (Josh and
Daniel) Bullocks. We were just talking about
recruiting. Exchanging stats. He was overwhelmed
at mine. I was overwhelmed at his." Harris, from
Alexandria, La., wishes he and Smith, from Edmond,
could have teamed up sooner. (NewsOK.com)
October 25, 2006
Smith expected to play Saturday: Oklahoma
defensive back Reggie Smith said Tuesday the
results of an MRI performed on his sore left knee
showed cracks in the upper portion of his tibia
bone, but he doesn't expect to miss any playing
time. "It's kind of painful," he said, "but, you
know, you've got to go through some pain
sometimes." Smith, the Sooners' starter at strong
safety, has been one of the defense's most
consistent players. He's also established himself
as one of the Big 12 Conference's most explosive
punt returners. With 19th-ranked OU visiting No.
23 Missouri and the Tigers high-powered offense
this weekend, the Sooners could hardly do without
him. But, he said, they won't have to. "They said
if it was offseason, it'd be two weeks on crutches
and I'd be good as new. But since I'm going
through it, by the end of next week I shouldn't
feel it. Every day it's getting better. I'm not
feeling it near as much as I was in the past."
Smith gets around campus on crutches to reduce
wear and tear on the injury and facilitate
healing. (Tulsa
World)
October 24, 2006
Smith back to
practice: Head coach Bob Stoops said strong
safety Reggie Smith practiced Monday after a
bruised knee kept him out of practice last week
and limited him to passing downs against Colorado.
(Tulsa
World)
October 23, 2006
R. Smith expected back to practice: Oklahoma coach
Bob Stoops indicated Sunday that strong safety
Reggie Smith is expected to return to practice
this week in anticipation of the Sooners' game at
Missouri this weekend. Smith was limited in
practice last week due to a sore leg and knee,
prompting OU to start Nic Harris at strong safety
Saturday against Colorado. Smith played deep
safety in the Sooners' five- and six-defensive
back packages and was not credited with any
tackles. He did collide with Colorado quarterback
Bernard Jackson in the fourth quarter, and limped
off the field as a result. (Tulsa
World)
October 22, 2006
Smith sees
little playing time: Sophomore Reggie Smith
saw his workload lightened because of a bruised
knee suffered against Iowa State. Nic Harris
started at safety and Smith came in as a deep
safety in passing situations. That got Smith onto
the field, but he was purposely kept far from the
action. (Dallas
Morning News)
October 21, 2006
Smith
expected to play: Oklahoma strong safety
Reggie Smith is expected to play today, although
his playing time might be limited due to a bruised
knee. Smith took a shot to his left knee during a
punt return against Iowa State a week ago. He
returned to play in that game but was held out of
practice Monday and Tuesday, which he spent on
crutches. (NewsOK.com)
October 20, 2006
R. Smith
status questionable: Strong safety Reggie
Smith, who injured his left knee on a punt return
on Saturday against Iowa State, didn't practice
Monday or Tuesday. OU sports information director
Kenny Mossman said Smith did practice on
Wednesday, as coach Bob Stoops anticipated he
would. The Sooners go through a light practice on
Thursdays. Smith spent the first two days of the
week on crutches, resting what an MRI exam
determined was a knee bruise. Smith's status is
still unclear for Saturday's homecoming game
against Colorado. If he is available to play, it's
likely he would do so only on defense. (Tulsa
World)
October 17, 2006
Smith undergoes
MRI: Strong safety / punt returner Reggie
Smith missed practice Monday because of a sprained
left knee sustained in Saturday's 34-9 victory
over Iowa State. OU coach Bob Stoops said Smith
had an MRI performed Monday and was on crutches as
a precaution. "They've looked at it and think it
should heal up here fairly soon," Stoops said.
"We're looking to hopefully practice him on
Wednesday." (Tulsa
World)
September 6, 2006
Smith to play more offense: The three
offensive plays for which Oklahoma sophomore
Reggie Smith was on the field last Saturday will
likely be surpassed this week when Washington
visits Owen Field. "I'd like to get Reggie some
more snaps offensively," Sooners head coach Bob
Stoops said Tuesday at his weekly media
conference. Smith was in on all 57 defensive plays
for the Sooners, as well as some on special teams,
in the 24-17 win over Alabama-Birmingham. (NewsOK.com)
August 31, 2006
Smith to play
15-20 plays on Offense: Athletically,
cornerback Reggie Smith shouldn't have a problem
playing wide receiver. Coach Bob Stoops said he
anticipates 15-20 plays a game for Smith on
offense, and Smith said he has a restricted
package of just a few plays, so he should be fine
mentally. He's in good enough shape, so stamina
shouldn't hold him back. Still, there are
challenges. "The games are so hectic on the
sidelines, can we find him?" Wilson said. "We
tried to play Dan Cody some at tight end; Tommie
Harris has done it. Can you find him? Sometimes
they're over there on the bench and they're
talking defensively or they're tired. It'll be
interesting to see in the heat of battle how much
that really plays out." (Tulsa
World)
August 18, 2006
Reggie Smith to play some at WR: A safety turned
cornerback, [Reggie] Smith already had worked his
way into something of an offensive role as a punt
and kick returner. This week, he added receiver to
his list of positions. The move harkens back to
the 2001 season, the last time a Sooner defender
played on offense. Andre Woolfolk was a cornerback
on defense and a receiver on offense, just like
Smith. While playing both ways in 2000 and 2001
Woolfolk caught 56 passes for 836 yards and six
touchdowns. Smith played multiple positions in
high school and was used as a receiver in both his
junior and senior seasons at
Edmond
(Okla.) Santa Fe.
The OU sophomore, who started 10 games last season
at strong safety, thought the opportunity to play
receiver at OU might someday present itself, but
not this early. "I didn't think it would happen
this year," he said. "(The coaches and I) had
always joked about it and I always asked about it,
then Coach (Kevin) Sumlin came down and asked me
if I wanted to try it. He told me it was 'an
audition.'" Smith joined Sumlin at the grease
board to learn a handful of plays. He's getting
six to 10 reps per day in practice. (in part from SoonerSports.com)
August 3, 2006
Oklahoma's Smith on Jim Thorpe watch list: Oklahoma defensive back Reggie Smith has been
named to the preseason watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is presented
annually to the nation's best college defensive back. Smith, who is one of 33
candidates, started 10 games in 2005 as a freshman and recorded 47 tackles en
route to being named to The Sporting News' Freshman All-America and All-Big 12
teams. The Edmond native joins four other Sooners that were named to various
preseason watch lists this season in June (Adrian Peterson - Maxwell Award, C.J.
Ah You and Larry Birdine - Hendricks Award and Rufus Alexander - Bednarik Award
and Lott Trophy). Smith, a 6-1, 199-pound sophomore from Sante Fe High School,
started the last nine games of the 2005 season at strong safety and posted
interceptions against Kansas State and Texas A&M. He also tackled a season-high
eight versus Nebraska and Texas A&M. Oklahoma has three Jim Thorpe Award winners
in its historic program, two of which came under current head coach Bob Stoops.
Derrick Strait last won the award in 2003, two years after Roy Williams was
honored in 2001. Rickey Dixon became the Sooners' first recipient of the award
in 1987. (SoonerSports.com
Release)
April 19, 2006
Stoops
optimistic about defense: Oklahoma coach Bob
Stoops said Monday that progress made during
spring drills by young defensive backs gives the
Sooners a chance to be "really good across the
board" on defense this season. Typically reserved
in player assessments, Stoops praised the spring
strides made by Reggie Smith and Nic Harris,
sophomores who project to start at cornerback and
safety in September. Each made two interceptions
in the Sooners' spring game. "Reggie was just
exceptional," Stoops said during a Big 12 coaches'
conference call to wrap up spring football drills.
"He's got great anticipation. He's a big cover guy
with great change of direction and great ball
skills." (Star-Telegram)
April 4, 2006
Sooners Defense works in Dime formation: OU's secondary
worked with five defensive backs in its dime
package Monday for the first time this spring.
Starting cornerback Reggie Smith moved to safety
in the dime package, while converted-receiver
Lendy Holmes played a corner spot with the
first-team. "It looks good," Stoops said of the
use of Smith and Holmes. "Lendy right now has
probably been the most consistent out there making
plays. It was our first day working it, but it
looked good." (NewsOK.com)
April 2, 2006
Defense shows strength at scrimmage: Scrimmage No. 2 of Oklahoma's spring belonged to
the defense. With five interceptions and five
sacks, there was little question that the Sooners'
stop troops were the story of the day. The 65-play
scrimmage was held Saturday at Gaylord Family -
Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. "As the head coach,"
I'm always a little divided," said OU head coach
Bob Stoops. "I can't cheer for the offense or the
defense, but it is pretty clear that the defense
is just some much farther along from where it was
at this time last year. "The secondary made some
big plays and Reggie (Smith) was just awesome." (SoonerSports
Release)
October 1, 2005
Change in
Depth Chart: During the two weeks since
Oklahoma's last game, the two-deep has been
shuffled a bit. Again. And today's starting lineup
could include a passel of true freshmen. Start
with the offensive line. Branndon Braxton will
start at right tackle, and George "Duke" Robinson
should play a lot (and could start) at left guard.
At receiver, Malcolm Kelly and Juaquin Iglesias
might start and should see plenty of action. Nic
Harris appears set to start at free safety,
joining Reggie Smith to give OU two true freshmen
at the safeties. Like everything else this year,
the youth movement isn't set in stone. Coach Bob
Stoops said coaches will continue to tinker until
they find the right combinations. (NewsOK.com)
September 21, 2005
Smith not yet
ready for punt returning: Stoops was asked if
strong safety Reggie Smith, who has been returning
kickoffs, might get a shot at the job. "I'm going
to have a guy back there that I see catch the ball
all the time in practice," Stoops said. "Lendy
demonstrated that all throughout practice, but
hasn't done it in the games. Jejuan Rankins does
it, but he's had a bad ankle. "Reggie needs to do
it better in practice before I put him back there
in a game. That's the bottom line. Not until I see
it over and over and over that the ball's secure.
That's what needs to happen." (Norman
Transcript)
September 15, 2005
Smith to make
first start: Oklahoma freshman Reggie Smith
has been elevated to the first team at strong
safety and will start Saturday at UCLA, according
to co-defensive coordinator Bobby Jack Wright.
Smith, an Edmond Santa Fe graduate who was twice
selected as a state Player of the Year by The
Oklahoman, will start in place of sophomore Lewis
Baker, who will play the dime-backer in OU's extra
defensive back sets. "He's to the point now where
he knows our defense about as good as anybody out
there," Wright said of Smith. (NewsOK.com)
September 13, 2005
Reggie Smith
to get more playing time? Co-defensive
coordinator Bobby Jack Wright said Monday freshman
strong safety Reggie Smith has worked his way to
the cusp of more playing time. "Reggie Smith
continues to improve," Wright said. "He's ready to
start playing a bigger role." Sunday, defensive
coordinator Brent Venables called OU's safety play
against Tulsa "sporadic." (NewsOK.com)
September 1, 2005
Several
positions at DB still undecided? OU
co-defensive coordinator Bobby Jack Wright said
Wednesday several secondary positions are still
wide-open — "I may just flip a coin," he said.
But one player has stood out. "The most solid guy
has been D.J. Wolfe," Wright said of the converted
tailback, who has grabbed a starting job. "Unless
he were to have some kind of real breakdown, I
don't see anybody catching him right now. His
level of play is so much higher than the other
guys’ right now. He just makes play after play
after play." Wright suggested true freshman Reggie
Smith was neck and neck with listed starter Lewis
Baker at strong safety. (NEWSOK.com)
August 30, 2005
Nine Freshmen
listed on Depth Chart: Coach Bob Stoops has
indicated that several freshmen will play this
season. Nine freshmen were listed on the team's
two-deep depth chart, which was unveiled Monday.
Receivers Manuel Johnson and Juaquin Iglesias were
listed as backups and both figure to see playing
time Saturday against TCU. Reggie Smith is behind
sophomore Lewis Baker at strong safety. Nic Harris
was listed as the starting nickel back. (Dallas
Morning News)
August 14, 2005
Stoops says
Smith has many options at Safety: Reggie Smith
is one of several freshmen the Sooners expect to
play this season. The question has been where. The
heralded recruit from Edmond Santa Fe worked at
cornerback and safety during the first week of
practice. Stoops said Smith's future appears to be
at the latter position. "He gives you a lot of
options at safety" his ability to play man
and other things, Stoops said. "It gives you a lot
of options. It's more because of the diversity he
gives you in there." (Norman
Transcript)
August 7, 2005
R. Smith to
start if Walker not ready in scrimmage Monday: True freshman Reggie Smith replaced injured Marcus
Walker Saturday, on first team defense. Look for
Smith to start Monday's scrimmage if Marcus Walker
is not ready. Bobby Jack Wright spoke highly on
the freshman safety. "He's way ahead of any
freshman I've seen for a long time," Wright said.
"He looks like a veteran out there. I've seen
enough of him. What the heck. He can play."
August 5, 2005
Former Edmond
Santa Fe Smith at Corner? Ballyhooed true
freshman Reggie Smith, a prep All-American free
safety at Edmond Santa Fe, spent the day at
cornerback Thursday. "He played corner today,"
said Stoops. "He really sticks out. All those guys
(in the defensive backfield) looked really good."
Smith wasn't alone. Stoops said all the freshmen
and first-year players looked sharp in their first
practice. "They looked awesome," he said. "They
looked like they're what they're billed to be and
more." (NewsOK.com)
February 3, 2005
Newest recruits could be playing for OU in the
fall - The Oklahoman Oklahoma fans waited
for Reggie Smith. He doesn't plan to do any
waiting of his own. "Im trying to make an impact
right away," the Edmond Santa Fe standout said
Wednesday. Smith was one of several future Sooners
who suggested as much Wednesday. Here's the
thing: Oklahoma coaches have no problem with the
idea. Not after signing a class ranked third
nationally by Rivals100.com.
Santa Fe's star player wavered until the last
minute:
Before all the smiles and the handshakes,
autograph signing and picture posing, Reggie Smith
was just his old self.
Wednesday, before the cameras started popping and
the cheers ripped throughout the Edmond Santa Fe
High gym on the news that the school's favorite
son had chosen Oklahoma to play football, Smith
stood by himself, rubbing his head and pacing in
the empty gym, unsure of what he would say to the
more than 1,000 people who came to hear him. The
recruiting process that wore Smith down and made
the already-private senior even more that way,
didn't end until just minutes before he took the
microphone and said his intentions.
February 2, 2005
OU signs defensive support - Oklahoma Daily
Edmond Santa Fe defensive back Reggie Smith said
he didn't know which college he would attend until
10 minutes before his Wednesday morning
announcement. However, he said his decision was
down to OU and USC. Fortunately for the Sooners,
Wednesday's result was different than the Orange
Bowl's. Smith, a highly-touted, do-everything
player said he would be coming to OU in front of
his classmates at the Santa Fe High School gym.
I've decided to stay here and go to Oklahoma" he
said. His decision helped give OU the No. 2
recruiting class in the nation according to
Rivals.com. Scout.com has OU's recruiting class at
No. 4.
