09/15/2026
Happy birthday former Clinton, University of Oklahoma and NFL tight end Trent Smith, born on this day in 1979 in Norman.
Smith was an All-State selection and PrepStar All-American as a senior in 1997 after catching 35 passes for 601 yards and eight touchdowns in helping the Red Tornadoes to a second straight state championship.
He also had 100 tackles from his defensive end spot.
Considered a top five tight end recruit nationally, Smith selected OU over several other offers and caught 18 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns as a redshirt freshman in 1999.
In 2000, he was a member of the Sooners' national championship team, making 29 catches for 310 yards and three touchdowns, including eight catches for 96 yards and a touchdown in OU's Big 12 Championship game win over Kansas State.
His best season with the Sooners came in 2001 when he caught 61 passes for 564 yards and six touchdowns, earning second-team All-Big 12 honors. He earned first-team honors a year later with 46 receptions, 396 yards and five touchdowns.
In four seasons with OU, Smith had 154 receptions for 1,445 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Smith was a seventh-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2003 NFL Draft. Injuries derailed both his first two professional seasons and he signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 2005, playing in five games and making three catches for seven yards.
In 2006, he appeared in ten games for the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europe. He made 23 catches for 249 yards and three touchdowns.
Following his playing career, Smith worked for the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and later served on the Oklahoma State Board of Education. Today, he owns Sooner Medical Staffing and last December he was named General Manager of Football by the Yukon Millers.
Happy birthday Trent!