Za'Darius Smith

Za'Darius Smith (born September 8, 1992) is an American football outside linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Kentucky, and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Za'Darius Smith
Smith with the Baltimore Ravens in 2015
No. 55 – Green Bay Packers
Position:Outside linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1992-09-08) September 8, 1992
Montgomery, Alabama
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:272 lb (123 kg)
Career information
High school:Greenville
(Greenville, Alabama)
College:Kentucky
NFL Draft:2015 / Round: 4 / Pick: 122
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2020
Total tackles:226
Sacks:42.5
Pass deflections:7
Forced fumbles:8
Fumble recoveries:2
Player stats at NFL.com

Early years

Smith attended Greenville High School in Greenville, Alabama.[1] Smith played basketball in high school and did not start playing football until his senior year.[2]

College career

Smith played college football for two years at East Mississippi Community College before transferring to the University of Kentucky.[3][4] In his two years at East Mississippi, he recorded 66 tackles and 11 sacks. In his first year at Kentucky, Smith started all 12 games and recorded 59 tackles and six sacks, which ranked seventh in the SEC.[5][6] As a senior in 2014, Smith had 60 tackles and 4.5 sacks.[7]

Collegiate statistics
Za'Darius Smith
Year School Conf Class Pos G Solo Ast Tot Loss Sk PD FR FF
2013 Kentucky SEC JR DE 12 24 35 59 7.0 6.5 1 1 0
2014 Kentucky SEC SR DE 12 26 34 60 7.0 4.5 2 1 0
Career Kentucky 24 50 69 119 14.0 11.0 3 2 0

Professional career

On January 17, 2015, Smith appeared in the 2015 East–West Shrine Game and recorded two combined tackles and one sack to help the East defeat the West 19-3.[8] Smith was recognized as the most valuable defensive player in the East-West Shrine Game.[9] Smith subsequently received a LB invitation to the 2015 Senior Bowl. On January 24, 2015, Smith appeared in the Reese’s Senior Bowl and helped the North team defeat the South 34-13. At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Smith was projected to be a third or fourth round pick by NFL draft experts and scouts. He was ranked as the 12th best defensive end prospect by DraftScout.com.[10]

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand size40-yard dash20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 4 1⁄2 in
(1.94 m)		 274 lb
(124 kg)		 32 5⁄8 in
(0.83 m)		 10 in
(0.25 m)		4.83 s4.66 s7.42 s29 in
(0.74 m)		9 ft 5 in
(2.87 m)		23 reps
All values from NFL Combine[11]

Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens selected Smith in the fourth round (122nd overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft. Smith was the 17th defensive end drafted in 2015. The pick used to draft him was acquired during a trade with the Detroit Lions in exchange for Haloti Ngata.[12]

On May 8, 2015, the Baltimore Ravens signed Smith to a four-year, $2.76 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $483,152.[13]

Smith entered training camp as a backup outside linebacker. Head coach John Harbaugh named Smith the backup weakside linebacker, behind Terrell Suggs, to start the regular season.[14]

On September 20, 2015, Smith made his professional regular season debut during a 37-33 loss at the Oakland Raiders and made one solo tackle. On October 1, 2015, Smith recorded a season-high four solo tackles and made a season-high two sacks during a 23-20 overtime win at the Pittsburgh Steelers. Smith made his first career sack on Steelers’ quarterback Michael Vick for a six-yard loss during the third quarter and would also sack him on the next play.[15] As a rookie in 2015, Smith played 15 games with 30 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 2 pass defended.[16]

In the 2016 season, he played in 13 games and started four. He recorded one pass defensed, one forced fumble, one sack, 20 tackles, and four quarterback hits.[17] In the 2017 season, he appeared in 14 games and started four. He recorded one pass defensed, one forced fumble, 3.5 sacks, 24 tackles, and 16 quarterback hits.[18]

In Week 6 of the 2018 season, Smith recorded three sacks, which was part of the new team record 11 sacks, in a 21–0 win over the Tennessee Titans, earning him AFC Defensive Player of the Week.[19] He finished the season with career-highs with 45 combined tackles, 8.5 sacks, two passes defensed and a forced fumble. He led the Ravens in sacks and finished sixth on the team in tackles.[20]

Green Bay Packers

On March 14, 2019, Smith signed a four-year, $66 million contract with the Green Bay Packers.[21] In Smith's debut as a Packer in week 1, he made 3 tackles and sacked Mitchell Trubisky once in the 10–3 win over the Chicago Bears.[22] In week 6 against the Detroit Lions, Smith recorded a sack on Matthew Stafford in the 23–22 win.[23] In week 8 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Smith sacked Matt Moore twice in the 31–24 win.[24] In week 12 against the San Francisco 49ers, Smith recorded a team high 6 tackles and sacked Jimmy Garoppolo once in the 37–8 loss.[25] In week 16 against the Minnesota Vikings, Smith sacked Kirk Cousins 3.5 times during the 23–10 win.[26][27] Smith finished the regular season with a career high 13.5 sacks.

In the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the Seattle Seahawks, Smith recorded 2 sacks on Russell Wilson during the 28–23 win.[28]

In Week 3 of the 2020 season against the New Orleans Saints, on Sunday Night Football, Smith forced a fumble on Taysom Hill that was recovered by the Packers during the 37–30 win.[29] In Week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football, Smith sacked Matt Ryan three times during the 30–16 win. [30] Smith was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Week 4. [31] In Week 12 against the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football, Smith recorded a strip sack on Mitchell Trubisky that was recovered and returned for a touchdown by teammate Preston Smith during the 41–25 win.[32] On December 21, 2020, he was selected for the 2021 Pro Bowl.[33] On January 8, 2021, he made the 2020 All-Pro Team second team.[34]

On September 29, 2019, Smith was cited by the Racine County Sheriff's Office for possession of marijuana and speeding in a construction zone. Smith and teammates Rashan Gary and Kingsley Keke were returning to Green Bay from Chicago when a deputy stopped them for driving 81 mph in a 60-mph construction zone near the intersection of Interstate 94 and Highway 20 in the town of Mount Pleasant. The deputy smelled the odor of marijuana in the vehicle and searched it, discovering three blunts and a THC vaping cartridge in a duffel bag in the rear of the vehicle. None of the men appeared to be high or had any drugs or paraphernalia on their persons when searched, but all three were briefly placed in handcuffs, questioned separately, and then released after Smith admitted to ownership of the paraphernalia, as well as to smoking marijuana before leaving Chicago. Smith cooperated with the officer throughout the incident, and hired a lawyer who entered a plea of not guilty on both charges.[35] On July 30, 2020, the Racine County prosecutor dismissed the charges.[36]

NFL career statistics

Regular season
YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GPGSCombTotalAstSckIntYdsAvgLngTDPDFFFR
2015BAL 1503020105.500000100
2016BAL 1342010101.000000111
2017BAL 144241593.500000111
2018BAL 1684526198.500000211
2019GB 161655411413.500000010
2020 GB 12 12 45 30 15 12.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
Career78361901246642.500000554
Source: NFL.com

Postseason
YearTeamGPGSTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
TotalSoloAstSckSFTYPDefIntYdsAvgLngTDsFFFR
2018BAL 111100.0000000000
2019GB 227522.0000000000
2020GB 111101.0000000000
Total449723.0000000000
Source:

References
  1. Rankin, Duane (April 24, 2018). "Montgomery to NFL: The Latest – Za'Darius Smith". The Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  2. Scouting the Cats: Smith making up for lost time as one of UK's defensive anchors
  3. "UK's Smith takes unlikely path to stardom". ESPN. August 11, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  4. Bean, Josh (December 19, 2012). "Greenville High product Za'Darius Smith signs to play football at Kentucky". al. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  5. "2013 Southeastern Conference Leaders". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  6. "Kentucky DEs Dupree, Smith form pass-rush threat". USA Today. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  7. "Za'Darius Smith 2014 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  8. "2015 East-West Shrine Game" (PDF). ShrineGame.com. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  9. "Smith bound for Senior Bowl following MVP East-West performance". GreenvilleAdvocate.com. January 20, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  10. "Za'Darius Smith, DS #12 DE, Kentucky". DraftScout.com. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  11. "NFL Combine: Za'Darius Smith". National Football League. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  12. "2015 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  13. "Spotrac.com: Za'Darius Smith". Spotrac.com. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  14. Downing, Garrett (August 7, 2015). "Ravens Release First 2015 Depth Chart". BaltimoreRavens.com. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  15. "Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers - October 1st, 2015". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  16. "2015 Baltimore Ravens Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  17. "2016 Baltimore Ravens Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  18. "2017 Baltimore Ravens Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  19. Lam, Quang M. (October 17, 2018). "Albert Wilson, Todd Gurley among Players of Week". National Football League.
  20. "2018 Baltimore Ravens Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  21. "Packers sign four players". Packers.com. March 14, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  22. "Packers D, Aaron Rodgers beat Bears 10–3 in opener". ESPN. September 5, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  23. "Packers get the calls, Crosby hits late FG to beat Lions". ESPN. October 13, 2019. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  24. "Rodgers, Jones star for Packers in 31–24 victory over Chiefs". ESPN. October 27, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  25. "49ers start 3-game gauntlet with 37–8 win over Packers". ESPN. Associated Press. November 24, 2019. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  26. "Za'Darius Smith:Game Logs". National Football League. December 26, 2019. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  27. "Packers clinch NFC North with 23–10 win over Vikings". ESPN. Associated Press. December 23, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  28. "Packers hold off Seahawks 28-23 to reach NFC title game". www.espn.com. Associated Press. January 12, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  29. "Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints - September 27th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  30. "Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers - October 5th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  31. Gordon, Grant (October 7, 2020). "Buccaneers QB Tom Brady, Browns DE Myles Garrett among NFL Players of the Week". NFL.com. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  32. "Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers - November 29th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  33. Around the NFL Staff. "NFL reveals complete AFC, NFC rosters for 2021 Pro Bowl". NFL.com. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  34. "2020 NFL All-Pro Team Roster". Associated Press. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  35. Vielmetti, Bruce (November 8, 2019). "Body cam video shows cooperative interaction between Packers' Za'Darius Smith and deputies". JSOnline.com. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  36. "2019FO001104 Case Details". wcca.wicourts.gov. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
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