It's a safe bet that none of the 51 players in the Giants' rookie minicamp has as much big-game experience as second-round pick Steve Smith. It might not even be a stretch to say that Smith, who played in two national championship games at USC, has more big-game experience than some of the regulars on the Giants' .roster.

So perhaps it was no surprise to see Smith go up for a terrific catch in the first minutes of 11-on-11 drills Saturday, the first day of the two-day camp that wraps up today at .Giants Stadium.

Smith, who turned 22 May 6, is bringing just the sort of polish to the NFL that the Giants want. After four seasons playing for Pete Carroll and alongside current NFL players Matt .Leinart, Reggie Bush, Mike Williams and Dwayne Jarrett, to name just a few, Smith may be more NFL-ready than any of the Giants' draft picks.

"I feel like that's prepared me a little better," Smith said. "Just even going back to being a freshman, talking about meetings, about being early. A lot of the things coach Coughlin said .already, I heard from coach Carroll."

Amani Toomer's age (33) and health (recovering from ACL surgery) were two reasons why general manager Jerry Reese chose Smith with the 51st pick, but they weren't the only .reasons. The Giants' passing attack has added .weapons in each of the past three offseasons -- the signing of Plaxico Burress in 2005, then the drafting of Sinorice Moss in the second round in 2006 -- but it will never be a bigger factor than in the coming .season.

Even Smith, a Giant for all of two weeks, knows what to expect. "With the departure of Tiki , I'm sure we'll be throwing the ball more," he said. "We've got a great passing .attack and I just want to be one of the weapons."

Smith and Moss, who was never healthy enough to make a sustained impact as a rookie, seem to round out the Giants' wide-receiver depth chart, along with Toomer, Burress and .special-teams ace David Tyree. The lack of real competition -- Michael Jennings was on the depth chart last season but will have to fight to make the club -- shows on the field during the rookie camp, where .receivers coach Mike .Sullivan has only five .students in his group.

Smith is clearly the prized pupil. He matched up with first-round pick Aaron Ross in several plays and drills, and Smith got the better of the former Texas cornerback a few times. The two lined up opposite each other in the national title game Jan. 4, 2006, when Smith had three catches for 29 yards in the Longhorns' 41-38 win over USC.

Smith had one of his best games against Oklahoma in the title game on Jan. 4, 2005 -- seven catches for 113 yards and three touchdowns in the .Trojans' 55-19 romp.

"In my mind, I was ready to leave right there," he said. "But being in all those big-time games definitely .planted the seed, and now I think I'm ready to be here in the big city, with all the expectations they have around here."

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