As the only returning starter from the 98’ team, Publico picked up right where he left off in 1999. Despite being only 16-years-old as a senior, Publico broke Los Al’s single season record for tackles (109, solo, 156 total) while forcing 6 fumbles, intercepting 3 passes, leading his team to a second consecutive the D-I semifinal appearance. In the final game of his high school career, a 35-9 loss, Publico intercepted 2 passes against Long Beach Poly.

When the season concluded, Publico was recognized as the Sunset League Defensive Player of the Year, All C.I.F., All Southern Section, 1st Team Long Beach Dream Team (Long Beach Press Telegram), 1st Team All Orange County (OC Register and LA Times), National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete (3.5 G.P.A.) while securing a starting spot in the North-South All Star game.

College Career: After debating whether or not to attend the University of Southern California (both his parents are USC grads) strictly for academics, or to attend UC Davis on a partial football scholarship, Publico chose the latter and became a linebacker for UCD. After redshirting in 2000, and contributing on special teams in 2001, Publico stopped playing football for the Aggies. Instead of transferring, he finished his double major (B.A. History and B.A. Sociology) while also working for UCD’s daily school newspaper, The California Aggie.

From 2002-2005, Publico wrote over 200 hard news stories, features and columns for the The California Aggie. As a senior at UCD (2004-05), Publico worked as UC Davis’ Sports Editor, organizing the coverage of all 26 intercollegiate squads. While going to school full-time, committing 30-40 hours per week for the California Aggie, Publico also wrote 8 articles for the Long Beach Press Telegram as a free-lance sports writer.

Post College: After graduating from UCD in June of 2005, Publico returned to his alma mater to coach the varsity Linebackers for John Barnes (the winningest coach in Orange County history) and his staff at Los Al. When the 2005 football season ended, Coach Barnes asked him to be the full-time off-season strength and conditioning coordinator for the Griffins five days a week. At 25 years old, Publico is the only coach on the entire Los Al football coaching staff to have played under Coach Barnes. Currently, Publico is a full-time personal trainer at the South Coast Athletic Club in Huntington Beach.

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His performance as a senior at St. Joseph’s earned him 1st team All-California recognition, numerous school records for receiving and a coveted spot on California’s roster for the annual Cal-Florida game. Smith ultimately accepted a scholarship to UC Davis because of the school’s academic and athletic reputation.

As a receiver for the Aggies from 2001-2004, Smith struggled to find his niche in the offense, playing on a limited basis. In his senior year, Smith burst onto the scene and became in impact player for UCD.

Early in the 2005 season, the Aggies visited Stanford University for a highly anticipated match up. As a Division I-AA newcomer, the Aggies entered as heavy underdogs against the Cardinal. However, the Aggies matched Stanford’s production and fought hard for four quarters. With only eight seconds left in the game, UCD quarterback Jon Grant found Smith in the end zone giving the Aggies a 20-17 victory in Palo Alto. Smith’s game-winning touchdown reception is the most significant play in UCD history, prompting some sports writers to say it was one of the biggest upsets ever to occur in collegiate football.

Smith went on to have 57 catches. He also broke UCD’s single-season reception record in 2005. The Aggies won the Great West Conference and Smith earned 1st Team All Great West Conference. Smith graduated in 2006 with a B.A. in Communications from UCD. Also in 2006, Smith helped the Los Alamitos High School football coaching staff by holding the head coach position of the freshman team. He is now a full-time personal trainer and works alongside Olympic trainer Scot Prohaska.

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