ASU #9 D.J. Smith
Linebacker - LB
Height: 6-1 Weight: 220
Junior
Previous Affiliations
Independence
Previous Experience
Charlotte, N.C.
Although he often flies under the radar, surrounded by a plethora of all-stars on ASU’s defense, Smith continues to play at the level that has made him one of the nation’s top linebackers ... his athleticism sets him apart from most ‘backers — few can boast the speed, explosiveness and nose for the football that Smith has displayed in his first two years at ASU ... barring any unforseen circumstances, he will continue to build on his streak of 23-consecutive starts at weakside linebacker this season.
2008 : Ranked second on the team and in the SoCon and 12th nationally with 123 tackles on the season ... despite the gaudy numbers, only received second-team all-conference recognition from the league’s coaches and media and did not receive even an honorable-mention all-America nod ... reached double-figure tackles five times in 14 games, beginning with 11 in the season opener at LSU and closing with averaging 15 tackles per game in two postseason contests ... ironically, he put up some of his best numbers in losses, as three of his five double-digit-tackle efforts came in losses (11 at LSU, 10 at James Madison, 14 vs. Richmond) ... turned in arguably his best performance of the regular season at Samford with 16 tackles, 12 of which were solo ... was named the SoCon’s Defensive Player of the Week following the strong showing in Alabama ... his finest effort of the year came in the first round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship versus South Carolina State, when he matched the season-high 16 stops and added one-and-a-half tackles for loss, a quarterback hurry and a pass break-up.
2007 : Turned in a spectacular season as a true freshman ... finished second on the squad and fourth in the SoCon with 121 total tackles (47 solo), despite not winning the starting position at weakside linebacker from incumbent starter Cam Speer until the seventh game of the season ... tackles were the most by an ASU freshman since Dexter Coakley recorded 159 in 1993 ... notched double-digit tackles in 5-of-9 starts ... did not record less than seven tackles in any of his nine starts ... named November’s SoCon Defensive Player of the Month after leading ASU in tackles (49), interceptions (2) and pass break-ups (3) in four games during the month ... in just his second-career game, came off the bench to lead all players with 12 tackles versus Lenoir-Rhyne ... in his third start, turned in the best performance by an ASU freshman linebacker in 14 years with 16 tackles (13 solo) and returned his first-career interception 23 yards for a touchdown early in the ballgame to help lead ASU to a crucial 45-24 victory at The Citadel ... 16 tackles were the most in a single-game by an ASU frosh since Coakley’s 21 against The Citadel in ‘93 ... added one-and-a-half tackles for loss against The Citadel and matched that total the following week against archrival Western Carolina ... also intercepted a pass against WCU ... earned SoCon Defensive Player of the Week recognition after tallying a game-high 14 tackles and breaking up two passes in regular-season finale versus Chattanooga ... registered 12 tackles and broke up a pass in each of ASU’s first two postseason victories over James Madison and Eastern Washington ... broke up two passes versus Richmond in national semifinals ... capped impressive freshman campaign with 10 tackles in national championship game versus Delaware ... in all, led ASU in tackles six times, including 3-of-4 postseason games (Lenoir-Rhyne, The Citadel, Chattanooga, Eastern Washington, Richmond, Delaware) ... tied for third on squad with 11 pass break-ups.
