TaiedoSmith

• SEC Academic Honor Roll (2008, 2009, 2010)

Played well in the spring and enters preseason practice as the starter at free safety … His playing savvy enables him to fill in at any position in the secondary … Sidelined by injuries for most of last season but now recovered and ready to contribute … Has seen action in 26 games, including three starts … Has completed his bachelor’s degree and is working on his master’s with a goal of becoming a marriage and family counselor.

2010 (Junior): Missed most of the season because of injuries … Played in five games … Totaled five tackles, three vs. Vanderbilt and two at Florida … Started the season opener at Louisville.

2009 (Sophomore): Played in all 13 games … Made his first two collegiate starts against ULM and Mississippi State … Totaled 20 tackles, including a career-high six stops vs. Eastern Kentucky.

2008 (Redshirt Freshman): Appeared in seven games at safety, including one start vs. Georgia … Made four tackles during the season … Had three tackles and a pass breakup in the win at Mississippi State.

2007 (Freshman): Redshirted as a cornerback … Named Defensive Scout Team Player of the Week during the season.

High School: Played his senior season at Dunnellon (Fla.) HS, starting as a wide receiver and defensive back … Named to the all-district and all-area teams as a senior … Made four interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, and had 10 pass breakups … Also caught 15 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns … Rushed six times for 98 yards, a 16.3-yard average, on end-around plays and reverses … Played his first three seasons at Lake Weir HS in Ocala, Fla. … Started as a wide receiver and defensive back during his junior season … Coached by Frank Beasley … A four-year letterman in track and field … Competed in the 400-meter run, the 4×100-meter relay, the long jump, and triple jump … Two-year district champ in the long jump and triple jump … Excellent student who graduated with high honors … His recruiting finalists included Stanford, Central Florida, Middle Tennessee, and Florida Atlantic.

Personal: Name is pronounced “ty-EE-doe” … Born in the Virgin Islands … Son of Tyrone Smith and Valerie Smith … Major is psychology.

Community Cats: Participated in events with Squires Elementary School and Woodford County High School (2010) and visited patients at Veterans Administration Hospital (2011).

Taiedo says … Favorite college course so far: abnormal psychology … The one thing I like most about football is: it teaches discipline and trains you to excel in extremely stressful situations … Something people might not know about me is: I am a gifted fisherman … What I like about my position coach, Steve Brown, is: that he played my position at the highest level and knows a lot … If I weren’t playing football, I would be: working on my masters, a TV show host and writing a book on the science of romantic relationships.