Justin Smith Class: Senior Hometown: St. Petersburg, FL High School: Lakewood Height / Weight: 5-11 / 197 Position: Free Safety Birthdate: 07/10/1979 HS Coach: Bryan Bruch

Experienced defensive backfield hand will play noteworthy role for Notre Dame secondary in 2001 . . . approved for extra season of eligibility by Faculty Board on Athletics since he did not play at all as rookie in '97 . . . reserve defensive back for the '00 Irish appeared on special teams . . . has played both wide receiver and corner in past but switched to safety in spring of '99. . . gained opportunity to get on the field late in '98 and expanded that role in '99 . . . made '98 springtime switch from offense to defense and landed backup assignment as cornerback for Irish in '98 . . . top-flight skilled athlete who found a home for himself in secondary.

AS A JUNIOR: Reserve defensive back in 2000 . . . appeared on special teams vs. Texas A&M, Nebraska, Navy, Rutgers and USC . . . also played on defense as safety vs. Midshipmen and Scarlet Knights.

AS A SOPHOMORE: Played in nine games in '99 as top reserve at free safety behind veteran Deke Cooper . . . missed only USC, Navy and Tennessee games after pregame warmup injury vs. USC prompted arthroscopic knee surgery . . . made 68 combined special team appearances . . . made tackles vs. Michigan State and Oklahoma.

AS A FRESHMAN: Played in four late-season games for Irish in '98 . . . made 20 regular-season special team appearances and also saw action in defensive backfield vs. Baylor and USC . . . four game appearances came vs. Baylor, Boston College, Navy and USC . . . had two tackles vs. USC, one vs. Navy . . . did not see varsity action as rookie wide receiver in '97.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Caught 18 passes for 460 yards and six TDs as senior in '96 at Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg, Fla. . . . caught 11 passes for 333 yards and four TDs in '95, also averaging 22 yards on punt returns . . . made five interceptions as a defensive back in '95 . . . an honorable mention pick on Florida Class 5A all-state team in '96 . . . earned all-conference, all-district and all-county honors as senior . . . also returned punts, averaging 38 yards per runback as a junior . . . missed much of sophomore year with knee injury . . . from same high school as former Irish standout defensive backs Tom Carter and Pat Terrell . . . competed in 100 meters, 110 hurdles, long jump and 4x400 relay in track . . . advanced to state finals in 110 hurdles and long jump as freshman . . . born 7-10-79 in St. Petersburg . . . received his degree in May 2001 from College of Engineering as chemical engineering major.