a sturdy, veteran Rice DB who plays with leadership and instincts
Bencil Smith was described by Rice as a spirited leader in the defensive backfield, and that matches the profile: a physical, reliable DB with strong football IQ and special-teams value. In his Rice career, he logged 33 tackles, 1 interception, and 1 forced fumble, with a standout 2008 line of 35 total tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 1 interception across available stat entries. The differentiator is the “trust factor” — coaches leaned on him as a smart, tough reserve who rebounded strongly after missing 2007, making him a solid fit for a team that wants discipline, edge, and veteran presence in the secondary.
