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West Virginia University Athletics

2020 Football Roster

Caleb Saunders
All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
Tykee Smith

23 Tykee Smith

  • Position
    Spear
  • Height
    5-10
  • Weight
    198
  • Class
    Sophomore
  • Hometown
    Philadelphia, Pa.
  • High School
    Imhotep Charter

Biography

  • Preseason All-Big 12 Fourth Team (Phil Steele)

2019 (Fr.)

  • FWAA Freshman All-American
  • All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
  • Played in 12 games at safety and started eight
  • Fifth-leading tackler for the WVU defense with 53 tackles, including 36 unassisted tackles, one sack and a forced fumble
  • Registered two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown against Iowa State
  • Saw action on 638 plays, including 547 on defense
  • Season-high 78 plays at Kansas State; also recorded 50 or more plays in seven games
  • Tallied his second interception of the season to go along with four tackles at TCU
  • Totaled six tackles, including four solos, against Oklahoma State
  • Recorded seven tackles at Kansas State, marking his fifth five-plus tackle performance in the last six contests
  • Finished with six tackles against Texas Tech
  • Posted the first sack and forced fumble of his career at Baylor; also tied his career high in tackles (5)
  • Logged four tackles at Oklahoma, including an assist on a tackle for loss
  • Tallied his first career interception, which he returned 19 yards for a touchdown, against Iowa State
  • Also matched his career high with five tackles vs. the Cyclones
  • Earned his first career start against Texas, finishing with five tackles and a pass breakup
  • Finished with three tackles and two pass breakups against NC State
  • Totaled five tackles at Missouri
  • Made his collegiate debut against James Madison, finishing with two tackles

High School

  • Played for coach Nick Lincoln at Imhotep Charter High
  • 2017 USA Today Pennsylvania All-American
  • 2017 All-Philadelphia Public League First Team selection
  • Two-time team captain
  • In 2018, he played in 10 games, finishing with 26 total tackles, including 17 solo tackles and eight tackles for loss … also tallied an interception and a fumble recovery
  • His solo tackles were third best on the team, while his tackles for loss, fumble recoveries and interceptions were No. 2 on the team
  • Offensively, led the Panthers in rush­ing, carrying the ball 60 times for 502 yards, averaging 8.4 yards per carry and had a long of 95 yards
  • Had a team-leading two 100-yard rushing performances and finished second on the team with 516 all-pur­pose yards
  • Scored nine times, leading his team in scoring
  • Helped lead Imhotep Charter to an 11-3 record and a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Class 4A State runner-up finish
  • In his career, helped lead the Panthers to a 37-6 record and the PIAA Class 4A State Championship for three consecutive seasons
  • Finished his career with 63 tackles, including 43 solo tackles, two sacks and 16 tackles for loss
  • Recovered a fumble, has five career interceptions and a pick-six
  • Offensively, he re­corded 971 rushing yards for 18 touchdowns, averaging 9.5 yards per carry and has three 100-yard perfor­mances
  • Caught 11 passes for 261 yards and five touchdowns
  • Finished with 1,385 all-purpose yards, including 128 interception return yards
  • Rated as a four-star prospect by rivals and three-star recruit by 247Sports and ESPN
  • Ranked No. 26 safety nationally by rivals, No. 41 by 247Sports and No. 74 by ESPN
  • Earned a No. 7-ranking in Pennsylvania by rivals, No. 8 by 247Sports and No. 15 by ESPN

Personal

  • Son of Cassandra Williams
  • One of five children
  • Enrolled in undergraduate studies
  • Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll
  • Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 23

    2019Sophomore

    Safety
    5'10" 202 lbs
    23
  • 23

    2020Sophomore

    Spear
    5'10" 198 lbs
    23