Chris Smith II
{{Short description|American football player (born 2000)}}
{{For|other persons with similar names|Christopher Smith (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Chris Smith II
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = Las Vegas Raiders
| number = 29
| position = Safety
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2000|5|1}}
| birth_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lb = 195
| high_school = Hapeville Charter {{nowrap|(Union City, Georgia)}}
| college = Georgia (2018–2022)
| draftyear = 2023
| draftround = 5
| draftpick = 170
| pastteams =
- Las Vegas Raiders ({{NFL Year|2023}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- 2× CFP national champion (2021, 2022)
- Unanimous All-American (2022)
- First-team All-SEC (2022)
| statweek =
| statseason = 2024
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 5
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Pass deflections
| statvalue5 =
| statlabel6 = Interceptions
| statvalue6 =
| statlabel7 = Touchdowns
| statvalue7 =
| pfr = SmitCh04
}}
Christopher Paul Smith II (born May 1, 2000) is an American professional football safety for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2022 and winning two CFP national championships.
Early life
Smith attended Hapeville Charter Career Academy in Union City, Georgia. As a senior, Smith recorded five interceptions and seven pass break-ups with 54 tackles.{{Cite web |last=Surge |first=Brandon |date=May 3, 2017 |title=Christopher Smith on Georgia commitment: 'Why not represent the home team?' |url=https://www.ledger-enquirer.com/sports/college/sec/university-of-georgia/bulldogs-blog/article148303549.html |access-date=August 14, 2022 |website=Ledger-Enquirer}} As a three-star recruit, Smith chose to play college football at the University of Georgia, following teammate William Poole.
College career
Smith played sparingly in his first two seasons at Georgia.{{cite web | title=A new mindset helps Christopher Smith prepare for big role on Georgia defense | website=Bulldawg Illustrated | date=2021-08-20 | url=https://bulldawgillustrated.com/a-new-mindset-helps-christopher-smith-prepare-for-big-role-on-georgia-defense/2021/ | access-date=2024-08-08}} Smith would play in all ten games in 2020, and he would increase his production after starter Richard LeCounte got into a motorcycle accident in 2020.{{Cite web |agency=Associated Press |date=2020-11-01 |title=Georgia star safety LeCounte injured in motorcycle wreck |url=https://www.news4jax.com/sports/2020/11/01/georgia-star-safety-lecounte-injured-in-motorcycle-wreck/ |access-date=2022-08-14 |website=WJXT |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Towers |first=Chip |date=2020-11-01 |title=Georgia's Richard LeCounte 'lucky to be alive,' stable after motorcycle accident |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-bulldogs/georgias-richard-lecounte-lucky-to-be-alive-after-motorcycle-accident/LGJA64AP7VEEPBLEQ57VAAWUNM/ |access-date=2022-08-14 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |language=English |issn=1539-7459}} In 2021, Smith would become the full time starter. In week one against Clemson, Smith intercepted Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, and returned it 74 yards for the only touchdown of the game, which resulted in a 10–3 Georgia victory.{{Cite news |last=Towers |first=Chip |date=September 7, 2021 |title=Georgia Bulldogs beaming about seniors like Christopher Smith |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-bulldogs/georgia-bulldogs-beaming-about-seniors-like-christopher-smith/WHUM2XMR5NEFXA7XU5ASF22AHA/ |access-date=2022-08-14 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |language=English |issn=1539-7459}} Over the course of the season, Smith played in 12 games amassing 34 tackles, and recording three interceptions.{{Cite web |title=Georgia safety Christopher Smith announces return for 2022 season |url=https://www.redandblack.com/sports/georgia-safety-christopher-smith-announces-return-for-2022-season/article_5b31b404-757a-11ec-afec-8f3870888a45.html |access-date=2022-08-14 |website=The Red and Black |language=en}} In the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship Game, Smith would tally one interception and a career high seven tackles in Georgia's win.{{Cite web |last=Farner |first=Keith |date=2022-01-14 |title=Christopher Smith, Georgia DB, announces plans for 2022 season |url=https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/georgia-football/christopher-smith-georgia-db-announces-plans-for-2022-season/ |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=Saturday Down South |language=en-US}} Shortly after the game, Smith announced he would return to Georgia using the extra year of eligibility given by the NCAA because of the shortened 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web | last=Thombs | first=Palmer | title=Christopher Smith announces return to UGA for final year of eligibility in 2022 | website=On3 | date=2022-01-14 | url=https://www.on3.com/teams/georgia-bulldogs/news/christopher-smith-announces-return-to-uga-for-2022/ | access-date=2024-07-21}} In his final season at Georgia, Smith recorded 50 tackles and three interceptions, while being named a unanimous All-American alongside former teammate Jalen Carter.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-15 |title=Georgia's Christopher Smith, Jalen Carter are unanimous All-Americans |url=https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/sports/georgias-christopher-smith-jalen-carter-are-unanimous-all-americans/article_fbb5e864-7ce5-11ed-aafb-8b9a9592e571.html |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=Gwinnett Daily Post |language=en}} During the 2022 SEC Championship Game, after Nazir Stackhouse blocked a 33-yard field goal attempt, Smith returned the blocked kick 95-yards for a touchdown.{{cite web | last=Dennis | first=Ryne | title=Georgia football safety Christopher Smith scores TD on LSU field goal | website=Online Athens | date=2022-12-03 | url=https://www.onlineathens.com/story/sports/college/bulldogs-extra/2022/12/03/georgia-football-safety-christopher-smith-scores-td-on-lsu-field-goal/69698591007/ | access-date=2024-07-21}} Georgia would go on to win the game 50–30, before winning their second National Championship in consecutive years, by a score of 65–7. At the season's end, Smith announced that he would enter the 2023 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Burns |first=Gabriel |date=2023-02-03 |title=Former Georgia safety Christopher Smith taking skills as ball hawk to NFL |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-bulldogs/former-georgia-safety-christopher-smith-taking-skills-as-ball-hawk-to-nfl/M5MCAMQUQZABNJYJ7SZ2LVJMWA/ |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 10 5/8
| weight = 192
| dash = 4.62
| ten split = 1.56
| twenty split = 2.62
| shuttle = 4.41
| cone drill = 7.45
| vertical = 33.0
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 8
| bench = 15
| arm span = 31 1/8
| hand span = 9 5/8
| note = Sources:{{Cite web |last=Reuter |first=Chad |last2=Zierlein |first2=Lance |title=Christopher Smith Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/christopher-smith-ii/3200534d-4982-9490-6b43-3a3a8d668113 |access-date=April 27, 2023 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1051492&DraftYear=2023 |title=2023 NFL Draft Scout Christopher Smith College Football Profile |access-date=April 27, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
Smith was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the fifth round with the 170th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Levi |date=April 29, 2023 |title=Raiders trade with Jets up to No. 170, select S Christopher Smith II |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-trade-with-jets-up-to-no-170-select-s-christopher-smith-ii |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=Raiders.com}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.raiders.com/team/players-roster/christopher-smith-ii/ Las Vegas Raiders bio]
- [https://georgiadogs.com/sports/football/roster/christopher-smith/6467 Georgia Bulldogs bio]
{{2021 Georgia Bulldogs football navbox}}
{{2022 Georgia Bulldogs football navbox}}
{{2022 NCAA Division I FBS College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{Raiders2023DraftPicks}}
{{Las Vegas Raiders roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Chris}}
Category:All-American college football players
Category:American football safeties
Category:Georgia Bulldogs football players