Bo Smith

Positives: Fifteen-game starter at Kentucky before transferring to Weber State and instantly dominating lower level, earning first-team All-Big Sky honors. Quick feet, adequate deep speed and uses hands well to jam the receiver at the line and rip balls away as they arrive. Highly competitive player who never backs away from a challenge. One of the more impressive defenders at the East-West Shrine Game.

Negatives: Dismissed from the Kentucky football team for a violation of team rules. Struggled with injuries throughout his career, including missing the entire 2004 season with a fractured skull suffered from an offseason incident. Physical enough to potentially draw flags. Lacks prototype downfield speed for deep coverage.

Smith has been invited to play in the prestigious East-West Shrine Game on Saturday, January 20 in San Antonio, Texas. He becomes the second WSU player in as many years to play in the East-West Shrine Game. Last season Paul McQuistan (OT) represented WSU in the contest. Smith is the 10th player in WSU football history to play in the prestigious post-season event. Smith came to Weber State in the Fall of 2006 as a transfer from the University of Kentucky where he spent three seasons with the Wildcats in Lexington. In his one season with the Wildcats, Smith earned First Team All-Big Sky Conference honors. He played and started in all 11 games recording 44 total tackles with 35 of them the unassisted variety. He had two pass interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and four pass break ups.

Each week he was assigned to cover the other team's top receiver and in every case held that receiver to a season or near-season, low in receptions and yards. His best game was seven tackles, six unassisted, against Eastern Washington. Smith also had eight kickoff returns for an average of 19.6 yards per return. Smith has also received an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine February 21-27 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Transfer from Kentucky.

Sat out the season because of an injury … Redshirted.

Played in 10 games and drew seven starting assignments … Missed two games and saw limited action in others because of a nagging abdominal injury … Despite the missed playing time, he ranked sixth on the team in tackles with 57, including a career-high 13 vs. Arkansas … Had 11 stops in the win over Mississippi State … Against Florida, he grabbed his first career interception, forced a fumble, and had a pass breakup.

Played in all 12 games as a reserve cornerback and on special teams … Made 13 tackles with a season high of three stops against Indiana and Georgia … Had two pass breakups, both coming at Florida … Member of the punt return team that helped spring Derek Abney to four punt return touchdowns … Blocked a punt against Tennessee.

Outstanding two-way player as a running back and defensive back at Senior HS in Owensboro, Ky. … As a senior, rushed for 1,796 yards on 158 carries, an 11.4-yard average, and 20 touchdowns … Caught 11 passes for 183 yards and four TDs … On defense, accounted for 72 tackles … Also had two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, and broke up eight passes … His combination of offensive and defensive prowess earned first-team all-state honors from The Associated Press and third-team all-state laurels from the Louisville Courier-Journal … Tabbed to the Lexington Herald-Leader "Class of the Commonwealth" listing of the top 22 seniors in Kentucky … Area Player of the Year as voted by the coaches … Named to the PrepStar All-South team … Rushed for 1,369 yards his junior year and was a two-year selection for the all-district and all-area teams.

Three-year starter at tailback and two-year regular at safety … Helped lead his team to a 37-7 record, advancing to the state championship game as a sophomore and junior and the state semis as a senior … Coached by Gordon Powers … Member of the Kentucky team for the Kentucky vs. Tennessee High School All-Star Game in the summer of 2002 … Will be a three-year letterman in track, competing in the 100- and 200-meter dashes along with the 4x100- and 4x200-meter relays … Went to the state meet in all four events last year, capturing the state title in the 4x100 relay … Honor roll student … Drew recruiting attention from numerous other schools such as Louisville, Cincinnati, Indiana, Illinois, Purdue, and West Virginia.

Born in Owensboro, Ky. … Son of Paulette Smith … An uncle, Vince Buck, played for the New Orleans Saints … Major is kinesiology.