D. J. Smith (American football)
Encyclopedia
Darryl Devon Smith Jr. better known as D.J. Smith, is an American football
linebacker
with the Green Bay Packers
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Packers out of Appalachian State University
in the sixth round (186th pick overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft
.
. Where he started for three years out of four and was part of a team that went undefeated and won four straight state titles. During his time at Independence High School he was often rotated between middle and outside linebacker. He was an all-state recognition twice, an all-conference nominee three times, and named team MVP his senior year. Smith also lettered three years in basketball.
nominee Dexter Coakley
to have more then 500 tackles in his career. He majored in Business Management.
Defensive Player of the month for November after leading the conference in tackles with 49, interceptions with two, and passes deflected with five. His first interception was against The Citadel, which he ran back 43 yards for a touchdown. During this game, he also also broke the record for tackles by a freshman in a game (also held by Coakley).. He was also named the Southern Conference Player of the week after a game against Chattanooga after recording 14 tackles and 2 pass break-ups. In the National Championship game against the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens, he recored 10 more tackles.
, a game in which he had 16 tackles (12 solo). Following this game, was once named the Southern Conference defensive player of the week. He again received this honor after a contest against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Smith finished the season with 123 tackles, including 53 solo tackles. He finished second in the conference and 12th in the nation and received 2nd team Southern Conference honors.
.. He continued on to earn National and Southern Conference Defensive player of the week for his performance against Samford University with 17 tackles, the most by any Mountaineer since his Freshman year. He finished the season with 137 tackles (60 solo), and with two forced fumbles and recoveries, the most on the team.
, and to the third team by the Associated Press. On top of this, he was also given first team all Southern-Conference honors by the Coaches and Media. Though he did in fact start every game that season, only six of them were at weak side linebacker (The position he had played most of his career). He was then moved to Middle Linebacker due to injuries. Even so, he still posted double-digit tackles in ten out of thirteen games. His first start at Linebacker came against Samford, where he intercepted a pass and returned it 26 yards to set up a touchdown. In his final season, he registered a career high 146 tackles (5th nationally), with 76 of them being solo.
. Smith responded to being drafted by stating: "I'm ecstatic that Green Bay saw my talent and decided to pick me up.”
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
with the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Packers out of Appalachian State University
Appalachian State Mountaineers football
The Appalachian State Mountaineers football team is the college football team at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. The Mountaineers have competed in the Southern Conference since 1972, and are currently a Division I Football Championship Subdivision member of the National...
in the sixth round (186th pick overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft
2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
.
High school
Smith attended Independence High School in Charlotte, North CarolinaCharlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. Where he started for three years out of four and was part of a team that went undefeated and won four straight state titles. During his time at Independence High School he was often rotated between middle and outside linebacker. He was an all-state recognition twice, an all-conference nominee three times, and named team MVP his senior year. Smith also lettered three years in basketball.
College
Smith went on to play for the Appalachian State University Mountaineers, where he lead the NCAA Division I FCS in active tackles with 525 by the end of his career. He also became the first Appalachian State player since three-time NFL Pro BowlPro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
nominee Dexter Coakley
Dexter Coakley
William Dexter Coakley is a former American football linebacker who played 10 seasons in the National Football League. He was a third round draft choice of the Dallas Cowboys in the 1997 NFL Draft, out of Division I-AA school Appalachian State...
to have more then 500 tackles in his career. He majored in Business Management.
2007
Smith had an eventful first season with the Mountaineers, even though he did not hold the starting job until the seventh game of the season.Even so, he recorded more tackles then any Appalachian State Freshman since Dexter Coakley in 1993, and had at least 10 tackles in 5 of his first nine starts. He was named the Southern ConferenceSouthern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
Defensive Player of the month for November after leading the conference in tackles with 49, interceptions with two, and passes deflected with five. His first interception was against The Citadel, which he ran back 43 yards for a touchdown. During this game, he also also broke the record for tackles by a freshman in a game (also held by Coakley).. He was also named the Southern Conference Player of the week after a game against Chattanooga after recording 14 tackles and 2 pass break-ups. In the National Championship game against the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens, he recored 10 more tackles.
2008
Following his successful freshman year, Smith continued on as the starting linebacker and started all 14 games. His arguably best performance of his sophomore season took place against the Samford BulldogsSamford Bulldogs
Samford University fields 17 varsity teams . The Bulldogs have done well in recent years in both football and men's basketball, participating in the 1999 and 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. The women's basketball team made its initial NCAA tournament appearance in the 2011 NCAA...
, a game in which he had 16 tackles (12 solo). Following this game, was once named the Southern Conference defensive player of the week. He again received this honor after a contest against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Smith finished the season with 123 tackles, including 53 solo tackles. He finished second in the conference and 12th in the nation and received 2nd team Southern Conference honors.
2009
Smith's success at Appalachian State University continued into his Junior year, a year in which he was elected a first-team All-American by the Sports Network, and all-conference by the coaches and media. He started all fourteen games of the season and tallied fourteen tackles in the opener against East Carolina UniversityEast Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
.. He continued on to earn National and Southern Conference Defensive player of the week for his performance against Samford University with 17 tackles, the most by any Mountaineer since his Freshman year. He finished the season with 137 tackles (60 solo), and with two forced fumbles and recoveries, the most on the team.
2010
Continuing the streak, Smith started all 13 games in his final season as a Mountaineer and was once again named a First-team All American by the Sports Network and College Football News. He was also named as a second team all-american by Phil SteelePhil Steele
Phil Steele is an American sportswriter and analyst who focuses exclusively on college and professional football. He currently writes a column for the Orlando Sentinel, and is considered a "highly respected prognosticator" within the sports media...
, and to the third team by the Associated Press. On top of this, he was also given first team all Southern-Conference honors by the Coaches and Media. Though he did in fact start every game that season, only six of them were at weak side linebacker (The position he had played most of his career). He was then moved to Middle Linebacker due to injuries. Even so, he still posted double-digit tackles in ten out of thirteen games. His first start at Linebacker came against Samford, where he intercepted a pass and returned it 26 yards to set up a touchdown. In his final season, he registered a career high 146 tackles (5th nationally), with 76 of them being solo.
Predraft
Smith was thought by scouts to be on the shorter side for a linebacker and stated that he "has trouble finding the ball inside at times due to his lack of height." Scouts also stated that his arms were too small and limited his ability to "grab NFL backs on the way through or get off blocks.". They also stated that he has a habit of overrunning plays. On the positive side, they stated that Smith was a "Thick, compact linebacker", who often "Scrapes down the line, stays square to get to the ball.". NFL Scouts also stated that he was good at changing directions with limited space and that he was an "Excellent wrap-up tackler in space"Predraft measurables
Green Bay Packers
Smith was selected by the Packers 186 overall with the second of three sixth round picks in the 2011 NFL Draft2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
. Smith responded to being drafted by stating: "I'm ecstatic that Green Bay saw my talent and decided to pick me up.”