Wyatt Tucker Smith

Arizona

Nov 1 (Sat)

5:00 p.m.

Position:
Long Snapper
Height:
6-3
Weight:
230
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Gulfport, Miss.
High School:
Gulfport/Mississippi Gulfport CC

AT COLORADO: 2015 (Sr.)—CU’s top snapper for both long (punting) and short (placekicking) situations. For the second straight year, he handled every snap on special teams, all to perfection: 133 total, 68 punt snaps and 65 placement hikes. He was invited to and played in the inaugural Tropic Bowl in Miami for FBS seniors. For his career, he made 262 snaps without error (134 punt, 128 placement).

2014 (Jr.)—He played in all 12 games on special teams, as he won the snapper specialist position in spring drills. He handled all 66 punt team snaps as well as all 63 on placement kicks for a total of 129 plays on the season. In addition, on punt coverage, he forced two fair catches. He signed with the Buffaloes during the December junior college signing period and enrolled in classes in Boulder for the spring semester; he participated in spring practice and exited atop the depth chart at long snapper. He came to CU with three years to play two in eligibility.

AT MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST (2011-12/Fr., Soph.)—He served as the snapper for punts and placekicks for two seasons at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (Perkinston, Miss.), handling every snap both years (122 placement, 60 punt). As a sophomore, he forced 25 fair catches, altered returns three times, had two assisted tackles and a fumble recovery. He snapped for two very good kickers, first-team JUCO All-American placekicker Stephen Brauchle (who went on to UL-Lafayette) and second-team All-American punter Kevin Phillips (now at Auburn). Playing for coach Steve Campbell, MGCCC was 8-2 his sophomore year and 9-2 his freshman season, winning the South Division title of the MACJC (Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges) and reaching the state championship game.

HIGH SCHOOL—A three-year letterman, he was his team’s regular long snapper and a versatile performer on the offensive line. He earned the starting spot at right guard but broke his leg in practice after the season opener his senior year; he returned for the last two games of the year in his snapper role. He played tackle and tight end his junior season, though in more of a blocking role in the latter (no receptions) in addition to his snapping duties. He was basically a reserve lineman and tight end as a sophomore. Under coach Mike Justice, Gulfport was 9-4 his senior year and 11-2 his junior season, advancing to the second round of the state playoffs both times, and was 6-5 his sophomore year. He also lettered once in golf, doing so his senior year.

ACADEMICS—He is majoring in Journalism (Broadcast News) at Colorado (and was on schedule to graduate in May 2016). He earned his A.A. Degree from MGCCC in December 2013.

PERSONAL—He was born July 5, 1994 in Marietta, Ga. His hobbies include golf and playing the guitar. Two uncles, Tri and Trent Weaver, played baseball at Mississippi State and Baylor, respectively. He has coached for Team (Brian) Jackson Kicking, tutoring the long snappers who range in age from sixth-graders to high school seniors throughout the Southeast. He was a top 12 Elite Team member along with finishing second in the nation at the Rubio Long Snapping event in 2014 (in Las Vegas); Chris Rubio worked with him for several years and he credits him with his development as a special teams performer in both long- and short-snapping. He is the first player from Mississippi to sign with the Buffaloes since 1989, when free safety Dwayne Davis did so; he went on to letter four times and also hailed from Gulfport High.