Transfer Tales: How Blake Smith Fulfilled a Childhood Dream By Coming to Oklahoma
NORMAN — Blake Smith didn’t have Oklahoma in his top 10 coming out of high school in 2020.
After playing for Texas A&M for three seasons, the Sooners weren’t really on his radar as he entered the NCAA Transfer Portal.
But that didn’t mean he never dreamt of playing for OU.
“OU was obviously one of my dream schools,” Smith revealed in February. “ … It was an easy decision.“
A handful of factors made it easy.
One, Smith got a phone call from OU tight ends coach Joe Jon Finley, who had recruited him to College Station. Two, Smith had an intimate knowledge of OU strength coach Jerry Schmidt, who spent four years with the Aggies after leaving Lincoln Riley’s staff in 2018.
And three — and this is the big one — Smith grew up in Southlake, TX, going to Oklahoma games in middle school while his big sister was an OU student. He said he watched from the Memorial Stadium stands as Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray worked their Heisman magic.
“Sitting in the stands,” he said, “I mean it's kind of crazy, sitting in the stands now, kind of living out that dream. It’s kind of an amazing memory, honestly, to think about. Like, I still remember, I had a hoodie on, taking a picture on the field. It’s just like, kind of memorable, honestly.”
Blake Smith
BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN-USA TODAY NETWORK
So Smith has a little OU DNA, riding up with family from the DFW Metroplex, spending a handful of days steeped in the gameday atmosphere, falling asleep on the drive home dreaming of one day maybe wearing the Crimson and Cream.
But what ultimately brought him to Norman was the sudden and perhaps unexpected chance to fulfill those dreams.
“Honestly,” he said, “my recruiting started late.”
Smith also said OU called him late in portal process. But once Finley called, “the ball got rolling” and his dream of being a Sooner became a reality.
“I was wanting to play with (Finley),” Smith said, “and so when the phone call came, it was an easy decision.”
The real easy part came once he took his visit to the OU campus.
“Coming to visit, just seeing everything, just kind of blew me away,” he said, “and it kind of was a really easy decision.
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“Finally getting to come here and actually see their plan and see what OU football is about, I mean, they have tradition here. So it's kind of something you can't just pass up on, the opportunity to come here. So for me, it was the right thing for me to move forward.”
Finley had recruited Smith in high school, but then went to Ole Miss to coach tight ends for Lane Kiffin before Smith actually got to campus. Reconnecting with Finley was huge for Smith.
“I just feel like with his background, and what he did in college and went to the NFL, me and him are able to relate a lot,” Smith said. “And I just like his coaching style. And so that's something I wanted to be involved with. So I'm excited to see how it goes in the future.”
Of course, OU head coach Brent Venables became an integral part of Smith’s return to Norman.
“I feel when I took my visit here and I got to see OU was about, I got to see what Coach Venables brought to the table,” Smith said.
“Just how energized, how he really takes care of his players, how much he loves them and wants to develop them. Just that connection I had with him. when he first talked to me, we Facetimed, and he sent me a text. So being able to see it face to face and be able to hear him say it …
“He's all about relationships. I think he would say it himself. When you develop relationships with everybody on the team, it’s a huge part of life, basically.”
Coming out of Southlake Carroll High School, Smith didn’t even get an offer from OU.
“I kind of always wanted to come here,” he said, “and didn't get the opportunity from high school.”
In late May heading into his senior year, Smith posted on social media that his top 10 consisted of Alabama, Michigan, Oklahoma State, Ohio State, TCU, Vanderbilt, Washington, North Carolina State, Nebraska and A&M. Riley was not interested.
After an ankle injury during his senior year at Carroll, he chose the Aggies, but played only sparingly in his three seasons in College Station. That ankle injury kept him out of 2020 as he took a redshirt. He was also limited to just two games in 2021, then saw action in just five games in 2022 while coming back from an offseason injury. His career total: two receptions (both against Auburn) for one total yard.
Blake Smith
Texas A&M Athletics
Injuries held him back, said Cole Thompson, who covers A&M for SI/Fan Nation affiliate AllAggies.com.
“As the Aggies added more talent over the years, Smith began to fall down the depth chart, ultimately leading to this transfer this offseason,” Thompson told AllSooners.
Thompson said A&M coach Jimbo Fisher “spoke highly” of Smith and “players always praised him for his work ethic in practice.
“It's a boring answer, but it's an honest one. Smith never had a chance to break out for the Aggies during his time in College Station. No one really knows how he will transition over in Norman, but maybe that's a positive for the future SEC school? He's a ball of clay that can be molded into a more well-rounded prospect.”
Smith seemed to have no regrets about his time at A&M. After all, that challenging stretch put him on the path to Oklahoma, where he’s fulfilling a childhood dream.
Blake Smith
Texas A&M Athletics
“I learned a lot,” he said. “Been there three seasons (with) head coach Jimbo Fisher. Got to really understand the game more from his perspective, because he's really a mastermind. And so really taking bits and pieces from him and then seeing how it's implemented, it’s like really helpful going forward.”
With Brayden Willis off to the NFL and 2022 transfer Daniel Parker out of eligibility, the Oklahoma tight end room is a little thin. Austin Stogner is back after a year at South Carolina, but the other two — Jason Llewellyn and Kaden Helms — were true freshmen last year.
“Stogner, I mean, he's really taken me under his wing since he's been here,” Smith said. “So he's an older guy. He's got a lot experience, a lot of playing time. So obviously, he’s a really experienced guy. So to be able to learn from him, and really just be able to bond with him is a blessing also.”
Smith, who still has two years of eligibility remaining, is confident the OU tight ends will produce this season. One reason is the talent in the room.
“All of us in the tight end room,” he said, “can ball, obviously.”
Spring practice opens next week. For Smith, the early projection is for a lot of blocking, which would mean more of a receiving role for Stogner. But that could always change.
"Ideally, I would expect Smith to be in on 12-personnel packages and be an effective blocker," Thompson said. "Smith was much better when used in the flex rather than in-line, and it's one of the reasons he benefited in the passing game. Jeff Lebby and Finley will need to work on his development as an in-line blocker, but there might be some growing pains from the get-go. And again, perhaps playing more in the flex as a blocker will help open running lanes at the second and third level."
Another reason for Smith’s confidence is Finley. And another is offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby.
“I mean, Coach Lebby, he was at Ole Miss when I was at A&M,” Smith said, “so I really got to watch that game and just see how he utilized his offense and utilized the tight ends. That was something I wanted to be a part of.
“Obviously, I've had a lot of good history here with my family members coming here, and so being able to come here and really live out kind of my dream is something that’s gonna be really special.
“Just really the perfect opportunity for me.”
