The University of Kentucky football team snapped a 26-game losing streaking to Tennessee by beating the Volunteers 10-7
SEC Academic Honor Roll (2008, 2009, 2010)
Played well in the spring and enters preseason practice as the starter at free safety ... His playing savvy enables him to fill in at any position in the secondary ... Sidelined by injuries for most of last season but now recovered and ready to contribute ... Has seen action in 26 games, including three starts ... Has completed his bachelor's degree and is working on his master's with a goal of becoming a marriage and family counselor.
2010 (Junior): Missed most of the season because of injuries ... Played in five games ... Totaled five tackles, three vs. Vanderbilt and two at Florida ... Started the season opener at Louisville.
2009 (Sophomore): Played in all 13 games ... Made his first two collegiate starts against ULM and Mississippi State ... Totaled 20 tackles, including a career-high six stops vs. Eastern Kentucky.
2008 (Redshirt Freshman): Appeared in seven games at safety, including one start vs. Georgia ... Made four tackles during the season ... Had three tackles and a pass breakup in the win at Mississippi State.
2007 (Freshman): Redshirted as a cornerback ... Named Defensive Scout Team Player of the Week during the season.
High School: Played his senior season at Dunnellon (Fla.) HS, starting as a wide receiver and defensive back ... Named to the all-district and all-area teams as a senior ... Made four interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, and had 10 pass breakups ... Also caught 15 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns ... Rushed six times for 98 yards, a 16.3-yard average, on end-around plays and reverses ... Played his first three seasons at Lake Weir HS in Ocala, Fla. ... Started as a wide receiver and defensive back during his junior season ... Coached by Frank Beasley ... A four-year letterman in track and field ... Competed in the 400-meter run, the 4x100-meter relay, the long jump, and triple jump ... Two-year district champ in the long jump and triple jump ... Excellent student who graduated with high honors ... His recruiting finalists included Stanford, Central Florida, Middle Tennessee, and Florida Atlantic.
Personal: Name is pronounced "ty-EE-doe" ... Born in the Virgin Islands ... Son of Tyrone Smith and Valerie Smith ... Major is psychology.
Community Cats: Participated in events with Squires Elementary School and Woodford County High School (2010) and visited patients at Veterans Administration Hospital (2011).
Taiedo says ... Favorite college course so far: abnormal psychology ... The one thing I like most about football is: it teaches discipline and trains you to excel in extremely stressful situations ... Something people might not know about me is: I am a gifted fisherman ... What I like about my position coach, Steve Brown, is: that he played my position at the highest level and knows a lot ... If I weren't playing football, I would be: working on my masters, a TV show host and writing a book on the science of romantic relationships.
