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Michael seeks a full-time starting role as a linebacker in 2002. Smith was an occasional starter in the team's linebacker carousel a year ago. Among returning players, his 35 tackles is second most for the Spartans. His best statistical games in 2001 were against USC where he was credited with seven tackles including six unassisted and in the Fresno State contest where he had six tackles including one behind the line of scrimmage. Smith made an immediate impact when he joined the Spartans in 2000. He was a member of the traveling squad when the team opened the season at
Nebraska. Michael played in the first four games primarily as a special teams defender and was credited with 10 tackles before a knee injury in practice prior to the Rice game ended his season. Smith played his high school football at San Leandro (Calif.) High School (Coach Dan Calcagno). He was an honorable mention All-San Francisco Bay Area, a first-team all-league and second-team all-county pick and was named to the Hayward Daily Review's "Cream of the Crop" prep team during his high school career. Michael was born in Berkeley, Calif., on August 27, 1982.