97  Blake Smith Class: Senior Hometown: Tulsa, Okla. High School: Union Height / Weight: 6-2 / 269 Position: DL Birthdate: 12/24/1984 Experience: 2VL

2007 (Senior): A three-year starter, played in all 12 games and racked up 33 tackles (16 solo), 7½ tackles for loss, three sacks, a pair of pass breakups, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery...Nearly one quarter of his 2007 tackles came behind the line of scrimmage...Had one assisted tackle in opener at Colorado (Sept. 1) and two solo stops vs. No. 10 Cal (Sept. 8)...At Houston (Sept. 22), tackled QB Case Keenum for a 7-yard loss...At TCU (Sept. 29), flushed QB Marcus Jackson into toward Zac Bryson, whose sack ended a first-quarter drive...Had one of his strongest individual efforts, vs. San Diego State (Oct. 6), posting a career-high 2½ sacks among a career-best seven total stops and four solo tackles...Injured his ankle in the first quarter vs. Air Force (Oct. 13), but played in pain the remainder of the contest...Did not start following week at UNLV (Oct. 20), but played with heavily taped ankle and contributed to emotional first win...Returned to lineup vs. Utah (Oct. 27) and dropped Corbin Louks for a loss during a second-quarter series, forcing the Utes to settle for an eventual field goal...At BYU (Nov. 3), blasted through the line to drop RB Manase Tonga for a 3-yard loss on an early first-and-goal...At New Mexico (Nov. 10) in the fourth quarter, pounced on a Rodney Ferguson fumble to set up the game-tying field goal, then in the final two minutes, combined with Mike Pagnotta to keep Ferguson from a first down and force a punt in a 23-23 game (the Lobos would kick a crushing, last-second FG)...In win vs. Georgia Southern (Nov. 17), matched his single-game career high with seven solo tackles...Early in the fourth quarter of his senior finale, vs. Wyoming (Nov. 23), with CSU down 28-27, forced a Chris Johnson fumble at midfield, setting up the Rams' go-ahead touchdown in eventual 36-28 win. 2006 (Junior): Started at defensive tackle in 11 of his 12 games...Led the team with nine tackles for loss...Recorded two total stops and one tackle for loss vs. San Diego State...Made one tackle for loss vs. BYU...Had five total tackles vs. Wyoming; also had two tackles for loss and one sack...Had four tackles, three stops for loss, and one sack vs. Weber State. 2005 (Sophomore): Started all 12 games, including the Poinsettia Bowl vs. Navy, and made two tackles...Finished the season with 25 tackles, six for 26 yards lost...Also had one sack...Intercepted a pass in CSU's win over Wyoming and returned it 23 yards to set up a score...Credited with three tackles and a safety against New Mexico...Registered two solo stops against Utah...Had five tackles against Air Force...Made one stop against Nevada...Credited with one assisted tackle at Colorado. 2004 (Freshman): Came off the bench to record two tackles at Utah...Had two sacks for 15 yards lost against Wyoming...Made two stops, including his first career sack, at San Diego State...Had three tackles against BYU...Posted one tackle at Southern Cal and against Minnesota...Started in season-opening game at Colorado. 2003: Redshirted. High School: Considered one of the nation's finest defensive linemen at Union High School in Tulsa, Okla. ...Named the Oklahoma Defensive Player of the Year...Ranked among the top 40 defensive ends nationally by Rivals.com...Listed as one of the top 10 prospects in Oklahoma as a senior...Earned four varsity letter awards in football...Played for coach Bill Blankenship...Named to all-league team three times...In 2002, named first-team all-state by three different outlets...Was a three-time all-state performer...Also named the district player of the year...Two-time all-district selection...Named to all-Metro team as a junior and senior...As a senior in 2002 made 83 tackles and led the team with 10 sacks...Led Union to 14-0 record and state championship by virtue of a victory over Broken Arrow in the title game. Personal: Born Dec. 24, 1984, in Tulsa, Okla. ...son of Blake Smith, and Mike and Lisa Peterson...Has four brothers...His brother Nathan Peterson plays football at Oklahoma State...Full name: Blake Ewell Smith...Majoring in health and exercise science.