Smiley Bradford

DB · Junior

6'0" · 200 lbs · Defense

Also wearing #1: Evans Chuba (QB)

Background

Hometown: St. Louis, Mo.
High school: East St. Louis

Recruiting

Rating: 3-star (0.8744 247 composite)
National rank: #784
Class: 2024
Source: 247 composite

2026 season

No 2026 stats recorded yet.

Season by season

2025tap to read

• Appeared in all 12 games with one start • Totaled 30 tackles, 5.0 tackles-for loss, seven passes defended and one interception • Had a season-high two TFLs vs. USC (Sept. 13) • Broke up two passes at Minnesota (Oct. 11) • Intercepted the first pass of his collegiate career and earned a 90.0 coverage grade from PFF at Northwestern (Oct. 18) • Produced a season-high seven tackles and a TFL vs. Rutgers (Oct. 25) • Named Academic All-Big Ten

2024tap to read

• Appeared in five games with four starts • Credited with 17 tackles • Recorded a career-high six tackles vs. No. 2 Oregon (Oct. 18) • Had five tackles vs. No. 4 Penn State (Nov. 16)

Official bio

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2025 / AS A SOPHOMORE

• Appeared in all 12 games with one start

• Totaled 30 tackles, 5.0 tackles-for loss, seven passes defended and one interception

• Had a season-high two TFLs vs. USC (Sept. 13)

• Broke up two passes at Minnesota (Oct. 11)

• Intercepted the first pass of his collegiate career and earned a 90.0 coverage grade from PFF at Northwestern (Oct. 18)

• Produced a season-high seven tackles and a TFL vs. Rutgers (Oct. 25)

• Named Academic All-Big Ten

2024 / AS A FRESHMAN

• Appeared in five games with four starts

• Credited with 17 tackles

• Recorded a career-high six tackles vs. No. 2 Oregon (Oct. 18)

• Had five tackles vs. No. 4 Penn State (Nov. 16)

PREP

• Three-star recruit, No. 15 in the state per Rivals

• Tabbed as the No. 42 safety in the class by Rivals

• Reached three Illinois Class 6A State Finals, winning the a championship in 2022

• Recorded 93 tackles (66 solo) as a senior in 2023 to earn first team all-state honors

• Made 110 tackles with a trio of sacks, two fumble recoveries and one interception as a junior in 2022

• Recorded 110 tackles, one sack, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries as a sophomore in 2021

• No. 6 on the 2023 Post-Dispatch Super 30 list

• Team captain

PERSONAL

• Full Name: LeonTre Edward Bradford

• Parents: Trina Steeples and Leland Bradford

• Siblings: Destiny, Diearra, Leland, Landon and Laila

• Major: General Communication

Official bio on purduesports.com →