D.J. Smith

Darryl Devon Smith, Jr. has been one of the most productive defenders for a very strong "App State" program, racking up more than 500 tackles and multiple All-American nominations during his four years. Smith did not even start until the seventh game of his freshman year, but still managed 121 tackles (49 solo, 5.5 for loss, two interceptions, 11 pass breakups). His 123 stops in 2008 (58 solo, 6.5 for loss, three sacks, two INTs) earned him second-team All-Southern Conference honors. His 137 tackles (14.5 for loss, two sacks, eight pass breakups) as a junior and 144 tackles (76 solo, 4.5 for loss, two sacks) in his senior year gained him All-American honors. Dexter Coakley came out of Appalachian State in the mid-1990s and had a long NFL career at linebacker despite a lack of prototypical size. Scouts will see quite a bit of Coakley in Smith, though it's probable he won't be a third-round pick like the former Cowboys and Rams starter because he lacks pure athleticism. Smith's nose for the ball and solid tackling, however, could make him a late-round pick.

positives

Thick, compact linebacker. Scrapes down the line, stays square to get to the ball. Adept at picking up running backs in the flat. Good change of direction in tight spaces, able to break down and stay low to wrap up ballcarriers. Excellent wrap-up tackler in space, hustles to the ball well. Rips off tight end blocks at the second level to make plays. Gets to the first down marker when dropping into coverage, also capable of pounding receivers in intermediate-to-deep zones. Good delayed blitzer, corrals most QBs in the backfield and can get up quickly to block passes.

negatives

Shorter than scouts prefer, has trouble finding the ball inside at times due to his lack of height. Has short arms, limiting his ability to grab NFL backs on the way through or get off blocks. Relies more on hustle than straight-line speed to make tackles. Catches more than explodes into ballcarriers. Overruns plays, leaving open cutback lanes. Gets moved out of gaps easily by offensive linemen. Gets sucked up by play-action. Marginal fluidity in his drops. Gets blocked too easily by running backs on blitzes. Strong backs can lower the shoulder to push him downfield. Tackle numbers early in his career inflated by liberal rewarding of assists.

A three-year starter and four-year letterwinnner at Charlotte Independence, which went undefeated and won four-straight 4-A state championships during Smith’s prep career

ranked second on the team in tackles as a senior, playing both middle and outside linebacker

named team MVP in ‘06

a two-time all-state and three-time all-conference selection

also lettered in basketball

coached by Tom Knotts.

Full name is Darryl Devon Smith Jr.

goes by D.J.

born Feb. 24, 1989 (21 years old)

son of Pamela Rice

majoring in accounting.