Dawuane Smoot
{{Short description|American football player (born 1995)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Dawuane Smoot
| image = Commanders vs. Jaguars (52379247430) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Smoot with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022
| current_team = Jacksonville Jaguars
| number = 58
| position = Defensive end
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|3|2}}
| birth_place = Groveport, Ohio, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lbs = 264
| high_school = Groveport Madison
| college = Illinois (2013–2016)
| draftyear = 2017
| draftround = 3
| draftpick = 68
| pastteams =
- Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|2017|2023}})
- Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2024}})
- Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 149
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 25
| statlabel3 = Pass deflections
| statvalue3 = 6
| statlabel4 = Interceptions
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue5 = 7
| statlabel6 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue6 = 2
| statlabel7 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue7 =
| pfr = SmooDa00
}}
Dawuane "D.J." Smoot (born March 2, 1995) is an American professional football defensive end for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Illinois, and was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. He has also played for the Buffalo Bills.
Early life
Smoot briefly attended Saint Charles Preparatory School but graduated from Groveport Madison High School in Groveport, Ohio. During his high school career, he had 260 tackles and 30 sacks. He committed to the University of Illinois to play college football.{{Cite web |last=Figueroa |first=Joey |date=2016-07-24 |title=Smoot an 'underdog' unleashed |url=https://www.news-gazette.com/sports/illini-sports/football/smoot-an-underdog-unleashed/article_dbeab338-c14d-5350-8bba-87161022de4b.html |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=The News-Gazette |language=en}}
College career
Smoot played in seven games as a true freshman at Illinois in 2013, recording eight tackles and one sack. As a sophomore in 2014 he played in all 13 games and had 33 tackles and 2.5 sacks.{{Cite web |last=Daniels |first=Matt |date=2015-07-25 |title=Best of Illini: No. 15, Dawuane Smoot |url=https://www.news-gazette.com/sports/illini-sports/football/best-of-illini-no-15-dawuane-smoot/article_13131a84-43a5-573a-86ce-5ae889a8dd28.html |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=The News-Gazette |language=en}} As a junior in 2015 he started all 12 games, recording 40 tackles, eight sacks and three forced fumbles.{{Cite web |last=Tupper |first=Mark |date=July 9, 2016 |title=Tupper: Smoot aims to realize first-round potential under Lovie |url=https://pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/tupper-smoot-aims-to-realize-first-round-potential-under-lovie/article_7c0b2cac-07d2-596e-80a0-0ed7f6efca7d.html |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=Pantagraph.com}}{{cite web | last=Ryan | first=Shannon | title=Illinois’ Dawuane Smoot goes from under the radar onto NFL draft boards | website=Chicago Tribune | date=2016-08-05 | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2016/08/05/illinois-dawuane-smoot-goes-from-under-the-radar-onto-nfl-draft-boards/ | access-date=2024-07-23}}{{cite web | last=Bennett | first=Brian | title=Dawuane Smoot hurdling toward stardom for Illinois defense | website=ESPN.com | date=2016-04-27 | url=https://www.espn.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/132584/dawuane-smoot-hurdling-toward-stardom-for-illinois-defense | access-date=2024-07-23}} On November 29, 2016, Smoot was named Third-team All-Big Ten Conference by the coaches and media.{{cite web |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/big10/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2016-17/misc_non_event/FBTuesAllB1G.pdf |title=2016 Big Ten Individual Award Winners |publisher=Big Ten Conference |work=www.grfx.cstv.com |access-date=November 30, 2016 |archive-date=November 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129231830/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/big10/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2016-17/misc_non_event/FBTuesAllB1G.pdf |url-status=dead }}
Professional career
Smoot contemplated leaving Illinois after his junior season and received a second round grade for the 2016 NFL draft from the NFL advisory board. He decided to stay for his senior year and was the 24th overall prospect on Todd McShay's big board heading into 2017.{{cite web| url=https://www.syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2690373.amp.html| title=Senior Bowl 2017: Matt Miller's Top 25 Prospects| access-date=June 5, 2017| website=bleacgerreport.com| author=Matt Miller| date=January 25, 2017}}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He received an invitation to the 2017 Senior Bowl and practiced well throughout the week. He played defensive end for the North, but was held without a tackle as the North were defeated 16-15 by the South.{{cite web|url=http://fightingillini.com/news/2017/1/27/football-phillips-smoot-impressing-at-senior-bowl-practices.aspx| title=Phillips, Smoot Impress at Senior Bowl Practices| access-date=June 5, 2017| website=fightingillini.com}} Smoot attended the NFL Combine and completed most of the combine and positional drills, but decided not to perform the bench press. He also participated at Illinois' Pro Day and chose to perform the bench and have another attempt at the vertical. NFL draft experts and analysts projected him to be selected in the third or fourth round. He was ranked the 15th best defensive end available in the draft by NFLDraftScout.com.
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3 1/8
| weight = 264
| dash = 4.77
| ten split = 1.68
| twenty split = 2.78
| shuttle = 4.39
| cone drill = 7.18
| vertical = 29.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 9
| bench = 21
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 33 1/4
| hand span = 9 1/4
| note = All values from NFL Combine/Illinois' Pro Day{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/dawuane-smoot/3200534d-4f47-4349-7350-861e0a999ca9| title=Dawuane Smoot Draft and Combine Prospect Profile| access-date=June 5, 2017| website=NFL.com}}{{cite web|url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=128157&DraftYear=2017| title=Dawuane Smoot, DS #15 DE, Illinois| access-date=June 5, 2017| website=DraftScout.com}}{{Cite web |title=Dawuane Smoot 2017 NFL Draft Profile |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3042476/dawuane-smoot |access-date=December 26, 2023 |website=ESPN}}
}}
=Jacksonville Jaguars=
Smoot was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round (68th overall) of the 2017 NFL draft.{{cite web|title=No. 68 overall: Jaguars select DE Dawuane Smoot|url=http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/No-68-overall-Jaguars-select-DE-Dawuane-Smoot/6cbd23da-8962-4c57-9959-50700743d251|author=Oehser, John|website=Jaguars.com|date=April 28, 2017}} Smoot made the Jaguars team and played in all 16 regular season games, as well as Jacksonville's three playoff games.
In week 3 of the 2019 season, Smoot recorded his first two career sacks on Marcus Mariota in the 20–7 win.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401127859 |title=Minshew, defense shine as Jaguars thump Titans 20-7 |date=19 September 2019 |website=ESPN |access-date=19 September 2019}}
Smoot signed a two-year, $10 million contract extension with the Jaguars on March 16, 2021.{{cite news |title=Jaguars Re-sign Defensive Lineman Dawuane Smoot |url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/jaguars-re-sign-defensive-lineman-dawuane-smoot |website=Jaguars.com |date=March 16, 2021 |access-date=March 17, 2021}}
On July 21, 2023, after spending four months without a team, the Jaguars re-signed Smoot, who had been rehabbing an Achilles tendon injury he suffered late in the 2022 season.{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2023 |title=Roster Moves: Jaguars Re-Sign Dawuane Smoot |url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/roster-moves-jaguars-re-sign-dawuane-smoot |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=Jaguars.com}} He was placed on the reserve/PUP list to start the 2023 season.{{cite web | last=Harvey | first=Demetrius | title=Jaguars place DL Dawuane Smoot on team's active/PUP list | website=Florida Times-Union | date=2023-07-26 | url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/sports/nfl/2023/07/26/jaguars-place-dl-dawuane-smoot-on-teams-active-pup-list/70468222007/#:~:text=The%20Jacksonville%20Jaguars%20have%20placed,training%20camp%20for%20the%20team. | access-date=2025-04-02}} Smoot was activated from the PUP list on October 14.{{Cite web |date=October 14, 2023 |title=Roster Moves: Jaguars Activate OLB Dawuane Smoot |url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/roster-moves-jaguars-activate-olb-dawuane-smoot |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=Jaguars.com}}
=Buffalo Bills=
On May 3, 2024, Smoot signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Alec |last2=Glab |first2=Maddy |date=May 3, 2024 |title=Bills announce three free agent signings to one-year deals |url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-announce-three-free-agent-signings-to-one-year-deals |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=BuffaloBills.com |language=en-US}}
=Jacksonville Jaguars (second stint)=
On June 3, 2025, the Jaguars announced they had re-signed Smoot.{{cite web |title=Roster Moves: Jaguars Sign Dawuane Smoot and Trenton Irwin |url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/k000030-roster-moves-jaguars-sign-dawuane-smoot-and-trenton-irwin |website=Jaguars.com |publisher=Jacksonville Jaguars |access-date=3 June 2025}}
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
! colspan="2"| Legend |
| Bold
| Career high |
=Regular season=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | |||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Tackles ! colspan="5"| Interceptions ! colspan="4"| Fumbles | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{abbr|GP|Games played}} | {{abbr|GS|Games started}} | {{abbr|Comb|Combined solo and assisted tackles}} | {{abbr|Solo|Solo tackles}} | {{abbr|Ast|Assisting tackles}} | {{abbr|Sack|Sacks}} | {{abbr|Sfty|Safeties}} | {{abbr|Int|Interceptions}} | {{abbr|Yds|Yards interceptions returned}} | {{abbr|Lng|Longest interception return}} | {{abbr|TD|Interceptions returned for touchdowns}} | {{abbr|PD|Pass deflections}} | {{abbr|FF|Forced fumbles}} | {{abbr|FR|Fumbles recoveries}} | {{abbr|Yds|Yards fumble recoveries returned}} | {{abbr|TD|Fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns}} |
| 2017 || JAX
| 16 || 0 || 20 || 14 || 6 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2018 || JAX
| 8 || 0 || 4 || 3 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2019 || JAX
| 16 || 0 || 17 || 12 || 5 || 6.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2020 || JAX
| 16 || 7 || 25 || 21 || 4 || 5.5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2021 || JAX
| 16 || 10 || 36 || 22 || 14 || 6.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 || JAX
| 15 || 0 || 21 || 14 || 7 || 5.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2023 || JAX
| 12 || 0 || 10 || 8 || 2 || 1.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmooDa00.htm Career] || 99 || 17 || 133 || 94 || 39 || 23.5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 ||| 5 || 2 || 0 || 0 |
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
|+ Postseason statistics ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Tackles ! colspan="6"| Interceptions ! colspan="4"| Fumbles | |||||||||||||||||
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | Sfty | PD | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | JAX
| 3 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| Total | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Personal life
On October 19, 2021, Smoot helped his wife Aumari deliver the couple's second child at home, after she fell on the way to the hospital. The couple has a two-year old son, Ahmir.{{Cite news |last=DiRocco |first=Michael |date=October 19, 2021 |title=Jacksonville Jaguars' Dawuane Smoot helps wife deliver baby girl at home |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32432481/jacksonville-jaguars-dawuane-smoot-helps-wife-deliver-baby-girl-home |access-date=October 19, 2021 |work=ESPN.com}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
{{footballstats|yahoo=30181|espn=3042476|nfl=dawuane-smoot}}
- [https://www.jaguars.com/team/players-roster/dawuane-smoot/ Jacksonville Jaguars bio]
- [http://www.fightingillini.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6547&path=football Illinois Fighting Illini bio]
{{Jaguars2017DraftPicks}}
{{Jacksonville Jaguars roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smoot, Dawuane}}
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football players
Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players
Category:People from Groveport, Ohio
Category:Players of American football from Franklin County, Ohio