Quick Summary:
The 6-1, 197-pound wide receiver is a quick and
precise route runner who has demonstrated his big playmaking
ability during his career at Vanderbilt. Smith has great hands
and a tremendous ability to separate from coverage. Smith’s
speed, agility and hands force defenses to respect him as an
underneath and deep threat. Smith’s finest collegiate
game was in 2004 when he caught 8 passes for 160 yards (20 yards/catch)
and a TD against SEC rival Tennessee. Smith runs the 40 yard
dash in 4.38 seconds.
Personal:
Born Nov. 20, 1983, Brandon is the son of Peter
and Vanessa Smith. Has a younger brother, Brian, following in
his shoes as a high school junior wide receiver at St. Augustine.
In high school, was named to Coaches’ All-District Team,
catching 32 passes for 539 yards and 10 TDs during senior year...
MVP receiver who helped lead his team to a 12-3 record and state
semifinals of class 5A... Receipt of Purple Knight Award, the
top award presented to a senior. Smith will be graduating from
Vanderbilt in May with a degree in Human and Organizational
Development.
UP CLOSE INTERVIEW
Q: Who is your sports-related role model?
A: Jerry Rice
Q: Who is your non-sports related role model?
A: My parents, Vanessa and Peter
Q: What’s you favorite Vanderbilt tradition?
A: Walking down the “Star Walk” before each home
game.
Q: What made your decision to attend Vanderbilt University?
A: I guess it was the combination of great academics along
with great athletics. SEC football is one of the best college
football conferences in the country, if not the best. Most
of the guys who play football in the SEC have a chance to
play on Sunday. Aside from a superior athletic conference,
Vanderbilt also provides the student with an excellent academic
environment.
Q: What is the hardest class you ever took at Vanderbilt
University? How about what wasn’t?
A: I would have to say that the hardest class that I took
at Vanderbilt has to be Math 175. It is Calculus in 3-D! I
took it my sophomore year and had to take it twice. The easiest
class that I had to take was Business of Music. It met once
a week on a Wednesday night and there was not much work involved.
We just had to write a one page summary if there was a speaker
the week before and at the end of the semester, we had to
write a paper talking about the life of a person in the music
business (real or imaginary) and use all of the concepts that
we talked about throughout the year. It was pretty easy.
Q: What are some of your hobbies away from football?
A:. If I am not studying, then I am usually playing Madden
2005 with my roommates or on the Internet downloading music.
I just got a dog over the Christmas holidays so I’m
starting to spend a lot of time with her.
Q: What’s currently in your CD player?
A: I have no idea, probably some mix CD with a bunch of different
songs on it.
Q: What’s the last book you read?
A: The Bible, I try to read it every night before I go to
sleep.
Q: What’s your favorite professional sports
team?
A: Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings (football), Los Angeles
Lakers (basketball), baseball is really boring but I like
the Yankees.
Q: What’s your favorite sport to play besides
football?
A: In high school I ran a little bit of track but didn’t
really get hooked on it. When I was younger I really loved
baseball, so I guess that’s my favorite sport to play
(not watch) besides football.
Q: Who’s had the greatest impact on your athletic
career?
A: I guess I would have to say my high school coaches, Coach
Chris Lott (receiver coach), Coach Darren Dixon (offensive
cood. & qbs), and Coach Jabar Juluke for making me work
my butt off the summer before my senior year of high school.
I also want to thank Coach Steve Crosby, Coach J.D. Hall,
and Coach Charlie Fisher, my position coaches in college for
teaching me all the techniques that I needed to be successful
while playing SEC football. Also I want to thank Coach Ed
Lambert for recruiting me to Vanderbilt and giving me the
opportunity to play college football.
Q: What’s your most memorable moment in sports?
A: There’s two. The first is when Vandy beat Kentucky
for Vandy’s first SEC win in like 4 or 5 years. The
second is when I ripped up Tennessee’s secondary catching
8 passes for 160 yards including an 80 yard touchdown on Senior
Day which was also my 21st birthday.
Q: When did you realize that you had a bright future
in football?
A: I realized that I had a bright future in football during
my senior year in high school. I understood that I had worked
my tail off the summer before but I didn’t really know
that my best football would be ahead of me until I met Coach
Ed Lambert and came on my recruiting visit to Vanderbilt.
Q: Describe your parents and the influence they’ve had
on your life?
A: My parents are two of the most, if not the most influential
people in my life. They have been strong supporters of everything
that I have done throughout my life and will continue to be
there for me as long as I need them. The effect that they
have had on my life cannot be put into words. I love them
very much.
Q: What are some things about you that most people
don’t know?
A: Most people don’t know that I just turned 21 and
am about to graduate from college, so I guess I’m a
little young. Another thing that people probably don't know
about me is that I write "Maw Maw" on my wrist tape
before every game. Now, there is a story behind this. Maw
Maw was my grandmother on my mother's side and she died suddenly
and unexpectedly at the beginning of my senior season in high
school, the night before the third or fourth game of the season.
While she was in the hospital (after having surgery for a
blockage in her leg), she told me that she had still planned
on coming to that game, and she wished me luck in my Senior
Year. That very night, she had a stroke and was placed on
a respirator. The doctors said that the next couple of days
would be critical to Maw Maw's survival. But the swelling
in her brain increased, and we were told that there was nothing
else that could be done for her. Before she passed away, I
had the opportunity to tell her that I would dedicate my senior
football season to her and that I would write her name on
my wrists before every game. Though her eyes were closed,
and she was on a respirator, I knew in my heart that she could
hear me. I spoke at her funeral and told everyone about my
dedication. That year, the football team finished with a 12-3
record, losing in the state semi-finals. I had a blow out
season! After every touchdown that I scored that year (10
total), I pointed to the sky as if to tell her "Thanks".
I still write "Maw Maw" on my wrists before every
game because I know that she will protect me out there on
the field and she won't let anything bad happen to me.
Q: What is your favorite restaurant?
A: Cannon’s (it’s in New Orleans)
Q: What is your ultimate goal?
A: My ultimate goal is to be successful and happy in life,
whether I make it to the NFL or not.
Q: If you had one sales pitch to an NFL team as to
why they should select what would you say?
A: I think that an NFL team should invest in me because not
only am I an exceptional athlete, but I am coachable and will
work hard and do whatever my coaches ask of me. Also I have
good character and will represent my team, the NFL, and my
family to the best of my ability.
|