T. J. Smith

Last updated

T. J. Smith
No. 97 – Carolina Panthers
Position: Nose tackle
Personal information
Born: (1997-04-19) April 19, 1997 (age 27)
Moultrie, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:300 lb (136 kg)
Career information
High school: Colquitt County
(Moultrie, Georgia)
College: Arkansas (2016–2019)
Undrafted: 2020
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:11
Player stats at PFR

Fredrick "T. J." Smith (born April 19, 1997) is an American football nose tackle for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Arkansas and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020. Smith also played for the Minnesota Vikings. [1]

Contents

Early years

Smith was born in Moultrie, Georgia to Frederick and Avis Smith. Smith originally attended North Stanly High School, where he was all-state for North Carolina high school football. Leading into his senior year, Smith transferred to Colquitt County High School. He helped Colquitt County win the state title in their respective region. [2]

College career

Rated as the 142nd best player in the nation by ESPN, Smith chose to attend Arkansas after changing his original commitment to Vanderbilt. Smith redshirted his freshman year and in his redshirt freshman year, Smith only played in five games and had minimal statistics. In his sophomore year, Smith started all twelve games and improved his tackle amount from four in the year prior to twenty-six. In his junior year, Smith once again played in all twelve games. Smith's contributions in his Junior year helped Arkansas tally a team total of 882 tackles that year. In his senior and final year, Smith for a third time started all twelve games, although his tackle amount decreased from the previous two years. [3]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 2+1⁄2 in
(1.89 m)		296 lb
(134 kg)		34 in
(0.86 m)		10 in
(0.25 m)		5.00 s1.69 s2.84 s4.59 s7.47 s30.5 in
(0.77 m)		9 ft 4 in
(2.84 m)		29 reps
All values from Pro Day [4]

Los Angeles Chargers

After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, Smith was signed by the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent. Smith spent the entirety of the 2020 NFL season on the practice squad and was released before the 2021 regular season. [5]

Minnesota Vikings

Midway through the 2021 NFL season, the Minnesota Vikings signed Smith to their practice squad. [6] Smith was then elevated to the active roster before the week 12 game against the San Francisco 49ers. [7] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Vikings on January 10, 2022. [8] He was waived on August 30, 2022, and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. [9] [10] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 20, 2023. [11] He was waived on August 29, 2023, and signed to the practice squad the next day. [12] [13] He was promoted to the active roster on December 30.

Carolina Panthers

On May 13, 2024, Smith signed with the Carolina Panthers. [14]

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References

  1. ↑ "T.J. Smith Stats, News, Bio | ESPN".
  2. ↑ "Defensive end has room left to grow". NWAonline.com. July 15, 2015.
  3. ↑ "T.J. Smith". July 20, 2015.
  4. ↑ "2020 NFL Draft Scout T.J. Smith College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Chargers 90-in-90: DT T.J. Smith". Bolts from the Blue. SB Nation. June 10, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Vikings sign DT T.J. Smith to the practice squad, place Harrison Hand on COVID-19/Reserve list". Vikings Wire. USA Today. October 5, 2021.
  7. ↑ Peters, Craig (November 27, 2021). "Vikings Activate Myles Dorn, Elevate T.J. Smith". Vikings.com.
  8. ↑ "Vikings Sign 8 Players to Reserve/Future Contracts". Vikings.com. January 10, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Vikings Announce Roster Moves, Set Initial 53-Man Roster". Vikings.com. August 30, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Vikings Sign 12 Players to Practice Squad". Vikings.com. August 31, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Vikings sign defensive lineman T.J. Smith to futures deal". TwinCities.com. January 20, 2023.
  12. ↑ Peters, Craig (August 29, 2023). "Vikings Set Initial 53-Man Roster for 2023". Vikings.com. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  13. ↑ Peters, Craig (August 30, 2023). "Vikings Sign 12 Players to 2023 Practice Squad". Vikings.com. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Panthers sign two defenders after workout". Panthers.com. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
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