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Bill Smith’s Ole Miss legacy still kicking strong four decades later

Ben Garrettby: Ben Garrett3 hours agoSpiritBen
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Ole Miss football great William ‘Bill’ Smith is the school’s representative for the SEC Football Legends Class of 2025 (Photo credit: Ole Miss Football)

Ole Miss football great William ‘Bill’ Smith is the school’s representative for the SEC Football Legends Class of 2025. 

Smith joins Ole Miss Spirit contributor Brad Logan to discuss the honor, his career and more. Smith will join 15 other SEC legends for the 2025 SEC Football “Weekend of Champions,” set for December 5–6 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The conference will also honor the group before the SEC title game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 6.

“It’s very humbling to be recognized for something you did 40 years ago,” Smith told Logan. “I’ve won some awards of the years. I think this one means the most to me.” 

Smith was one of the most dominant punters in college football history. 

He was an Ole Miss All-American in 1985 and 1986 and All-SEC three consecutive years (1984-86). Smith averaged 44.3 yards on 254 career punts. He set an NCAA record with a 50-yard punt in 32 consecutive games and remains No. 2 in SEC history for career 50-yard punts (86) and games averaging 40 or more yards (36). 

Smith’s 92-yard punt and 84.5-yard single-game average against Southern Miss in 1984 still hold as SEC records.

“That was obviously a special game,” Smith said. “But there’s a few that stick out in my mind still that I remember pretty well. 

“It was just an honor to play at Ole Miss. We had a really good team. A lot of great memories, a lot of great friendships that I still have today from different players. Coach [Billy] Brewer, was awesome playing for him.”

Smith was a seventh-round selection of the Green Bay Packers in the 1987 NFL Draft. Ole Miss inducted him into its Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.

Smith continues to keep up with the Rebels. No. 7 Ole Miss (7-1, 4-1 SEC) hosts South Carolina (3-5, 1-5) Saturday at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN. The No. 7 Rebels in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 are barreling toward a College Football Playoff berth.

“It’s great,” Smith said. “I love it. I know the game has changed, obviously, a ton since we played back in the day, but it’s awesome to see us doing what we’re doing. Hopefully we continue to move forward with it.”

RELATED: Big recruits, bigger stakes for Ole Miss vs. South Carolina

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