Ask Georgia football players who would win in a footrace.

Watch the 61-yard reverse against South Carolina.

Look up Georgia high school track and field records.

It all points to this – Branden Smith’s not fast. He’s the fastest.

Smith, a Bulldog cornerback, ran one of the fastest 100 meters (10.64 seconds) in Georgia high school history.

“I don’t know if we’ve had one that fast,” Georgia head coach Mark Richt said. “I think he’s probably faster than most we’ve had.”

Smith, a freshman, played every position while at Washington-Atlanta and committed to Georgia to play cornerback. His speed and athleticism made him an easy candidate to help out on offense, also making for a Champ Bailey comparison.

Smith spent time last summer with the versatile Georgia legend. Bailey, like Smith, played both sides of the ball at Georgia, sometimes logging over 100 plays a game.

“It meant a lot because he’s been through it, and I’m trying to get through it,” Smith said of his time with Bailey. “I’m trying to get like him. He’s one of the greatest cornerbacks in the (SEC), and I’m trying to get there now.”

Bailey emphasized preparation and understanding while working with Smith.

“Just having confidence in myself, staying focused, looking up to the older guys, working on the basics,” Smith said. “One thing he taught me was looking at film. That’s the biggest thing in college right now. Learning how to break up film, how to study film and everything like that.”

Entering the season, how many opportunities Smith would get with the ball in his hands was unknown. The coaching staff kept his use a secret.

In the season-opening loss at Oklahoma State, Smith had three rushes and one catch for a combined 14 yards. Two ill-advised kickoff returns out of the end zone had many questioning Smith’s judgment.

And Smith fumbled during a kickoff return the first time he touched the ball against South Carolina.

The Branden Smith project looked like a bust.

“I was very disappointed in myself fumbling the ball,” Smith said. “Coming on the sideline the team was still cheering me on, and the coaches had confidence in me to put me back out there.”

Richt inserted the speedster on offense at the beginning of the second quarter.

Sixty-one yards later, the fumble was an afterthought.

Smith lined up at receiver, took a pitch from running back Carlton Thomas and was never touched.

Misdirection and a good block from receiver Michael Moore provided Smith’s initial seam. His speed finalized the run.

The touchdown validated why Smith was still on the field, despite early struggles, proving how dynamic he could be with the ball.

When asked if Smith’s presence on offense and special teams would increase, Richt said there was no doubt.

“I would think so, unless we recruit a boatload of guys that are better,” he said. “That would be a good problem.”

The only problem coaches have encountered with Smith is which meeting room he goes too. Smith has lined up at cornerback, kick returner, quarterback, running back and receiver.

“It is very hard trying to learn the offense and defense, you know trying to get all the schemes, looking at the film,” Smith said. “I can say it’s really hard because you really can’t stay focused on one because you have so much to do. I just try to make time for both.”

Smith’s head may be spinning, but he keeps his feet moving – on the practice field, in the film room and in games.

“He’s a great kid. He’s very coachable,” said defensive coordinator Willie Martinez. “He makes it easy. I guess that’s the best I can say to you is he’s very coachable.”