Alphonso Smith
Encyclopedia
Alphonso Smith, Jr. is a professional football
cornerback
for the Detroit Lions
. Smith played college football at Wake Forest
. Smith was selected by the Denver Broncos during the 2009 NFL draft with the 5th pick of the 2nd round (37th overall).
in Pahokee, FL., and was runner-up for the state Player of the Year award as a senior after leading the school to a 13-1 record and the Class 2B state championship. He was First-team all-state honors as a senior cornerback, totaling 27 tackles, four interceptions and one sack. On offense he threw for 2,400 yards and 32 touchdowns while also rushing for 640 yards and six scores as a senior. He also started on the school’s basketball team.
In 2008 Smith started all 13 games as a senior for Wake Forest, totaling 37 tackles (28 solo), seven interceptions, 20 pass breakups and two forced fumbles and tied for first in the nation in both interceptions and pass breakups. He was First-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection and a consensus First-team All-American
. He was named one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Award.
As a junior in 2007, Smith started all 13 games as a junior for Wake Forest and had 44 tackles (36 solo), eight interceptions, three sacks, 18 pass breakups and four forced fumbles and returned three of the interceptions for touchdowns. He tied for first in the nation with a school-record eight interceptions and was First-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection and picked up Second-team All-America honors from Walter Camp. In 2006 he played 14 games (3 starts) as a sophomore for Wake Forest, registering 48 tackles (37 solo), three interceptions, four sacks, 11 pass breakups and one forced fumble. In 2005 Smith started all 11 games as a redshirt freshman and finished the year with 60 tackles (52 solo), three interceptions, two sacks, 12 pass breakups and one forced fumble. He received First-team Freshman All-America honors from ESPN.com, Scout.com and CollegeFootballNews.com. In 2004 he redshirted as a true freshman.
for TE
Dan Gronkowski
. He had his first career Interception on 9/26/2010 against the Minnesota Vikings. The following week, he beat Packers receiver Greg Jennings on a jump ball for his second career interception. In a home game against the St. Louis Rams on 10/10/2010, Smith returned an interception 42 yards for a touchdown in the Lions 44-6 win. Upon completion of the touchdown, the 5 foot, 9 inch Mr. Smith spontaneously broke into a joyful imitation of the arm-swinging, hip-swaying dance that the character Carlton Banks (Alfonso Ribeiro
) often did on "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" to the music of Tom Jones' "It's Not Unusual". Asked about his unusual end-zone celebration dance after the game, Mr. Smith said "I had it ready to go. I hadn't really rehearsed it, but I rehearsed it in my mind". Against the Washington Redskins on 10/31/2010, Smith had a big interception late in the game to help the Lions comeback to beat Washington.
He led the Lions in interceptions in 2010.
Professional football
In the United States and Canada, the term professional football includes the professional forms of American and Canadian gridiron football. In common usage, it refers to former and existing major football leagues in either country...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
. Smith played college football at Wake Forest
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Originally, Wake Forest's athletic teams were known as the Fighting Baptists, due to its association with the Baptist Convention...
. Smith was selected by the Denver Broncos during the 2009 NFL draft with the 5th pick of the 2nd round (37th overall).
Early years
Smith played quarterback and defensive back at Pahokee High SchoolPahokee High School
The Pahokee High School is a historic school in Pahokee, Florida. It is located at 900 Larrimore Road. On November 15, 1996, The Old Pahokee High School building was added to the U.S...
in Pahokee, FL., and was runner-up for the state Player of the Year award as a senior after leading the school to a 13-1 record and the Class 2B state championship. He was First-team all-state honors as a senior cornerback, totaling 27 tackles, four interceptions and one sack. On offense he threw for 2,400 yards and 32 touchdowns while also rushing for 640 yards and six scores as a senior. He also started on the school’s basketball team.
College career
Smith holds the ACC record for career interceptions (21), he broke the record (previously held by Dre' Bly of UNC) in the 2008 Eagle Bank Bowl in a rematch against Navy.In 2008 Smith started all 13 games as a senior for Wake Forest, totaling 37 tackles (28 solo), seven interceptions, 20 pass breakups and two forced fumbles and tied for first in the nation in both interceptions and pass breakups. He was First-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection and a consensus First-team All-American
2008 College Football All-America Team
The 2008 College Football All-America Team is composed of the following All-American first teams: Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Weekly, ESPN, CBS Sports,...
. He was named one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Award.
As a junior in 2007, Smith started all 13 games as a junior for Wake Forest and had 44 tackles (36 solo), eight interceptions, three sacks, 18 pass breakups and four forced fumbles and returned three of the interceptions for touchdowns. He tied for first in the nation with a school-record eight interceptions and was First-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection and picked up Second-team All-America honors from Walter Camp. In 2006 he played 14 games (3 starts) as a sophomore for Wake Forest, registering 48 tackles (37 solo), three interceptions, four sacks, 11 pass breakups and one forced fumble. In 2005 Smith started all 11 games as a redshirt freshman and finished the year with 60 tackles (52 solo), three interceptions, two sacks, 12 pass breakups and one forced fumble. He received First-team Freshman All-America honors from ESPN.com, Scout.com and CollegeFootballNews.com. In 2004 he redshirted as a true freshman.
Pre-draft
| Pre-draft measureables | |||||||||||||||||||
| Height | Weight | 40-yard dash 40 yard dash The 40-yard dash is a sprint covering . It is primarily run to evaluate the speed of American football players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time in the 40 can have a heavy impact on his prospects in college or professional football... |
10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20 ss 20 yard shuttle The 20-yard shuttle, also simply called the short shuttle, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the quickness and change-of-direction ability of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
3-cone 3 cone drill The 3 cone drill, or three cone drill, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the agility, quickness and fluidity of movement of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
Vert Vertical jump A vertical jump or vertical leap is the act of raising one's center of gravity higher in the vertical plane solely with the use of one's own muscles; it is a measure of how high an individual or athlete can elevate off the ground from a standstill.-Types of vertical jump:The vertical jump is... |
Broad | BP Bench press The bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight... |
Wonderlic | |||||||||
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| 5-9 * | 193 * | 4.47 * | 1.50 * | 2.60 * | 4.38 * | 7.09 * | 34" * | 10'05" * | 13 * | 22 * | |||||||||
| * represents NFL Combine NFL Combine The National Invitational Camp or NFL Scouting Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Stadium , where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general... |
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Denver Broncos
The Broncos selected Smith in the 2nd round (37th overall) in the 2009 NFL Draft. The Broncos traded their first round pick in 2010 in order to select him. On July 26, 2009, Smith signed a four-year, $4.08 million contract with a $2.15 million signing bonus. Smith can earn $750,000 through a one-time playing-time incentive that is guaranteed for injury. In addition, if Smith wins Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2009, he'll receive a $100,000 performance escalator. He can also earn a $50,000 workout bonus in 2011 and a $130,000 workout bonus in 2012. His base salary will be $310,000 in 2009, $395,000 in 2010, $480,000 in 2011, and $565,000 in 2012.Detroit Lions
On September 4, 2010, Alphonso Smith was traded to the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
for TE
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
Dan Gronkowski
Dan Gronkowski
Dan Gronkowski is an American football tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
. He had his first career Interception on 9/26/2010 against the Minnesota Vikings. The following week, he beat Packers receiver Greg Jennings on a jump ball for his second career interception. In a home game against the St. Louis Rams on 10/10/2010, Smith returned an interception 42 yards for a touchdown in the Lions 44-6 win. Upon completion of the touchdown, the 5 foot, 9 inch Mr. Smith spontaneously broke into a joyful imitation of the arm-swinging, hip-swaying dance that the character Carlton Banks (Alfonso Ribeiro
Alfonso Ribeiro
Alfonso Lincoln Ribeiro is an American actor, director, dancer, game show host, and comedian. While he received attention for his performance in the title role of the Broadway musical The Tap Dance Kid and his appearance as a dancer in a Pepsi commercial featuring Michael Jackson, Ribeiro is best...
) often did on "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" to the music of Tom Jones' "It's Not Unusual". Asked about his unusual end-zone celebration dance after the game, Mr. Smith said "I had it ready to go. I hadn't really rehearsed it, but I rehearsed it in my mind". Against the Washington Redskins on 10/31/2010, Smith had a big interception late in the game to help the Lions comeback to beat Washington.
He led the Lions in interceptions in 2010.