NFL
University Of Georgia Linebacker Roquan Smith Selected 8th Overall By The Chicago Bears
Roquan Smith was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press in 2017. He also became the first Georgia Bulldog to win the Butkus Award. Smith was the team’s leading tackler in 2017 with 137 total tackles, 14 for a loss. In addition, he made a name for himself while at Georgia because of his impressive athletic traits and ability to pursue sideline to sideline.
Smith has great speed for the position and solid instincts and toughness. His most significant issues are that he is a bit undersized for the position. He can get engulfed by blockers and is still learning out to disengage consistently from them. Smith’s read and react ability can be a tick slow, and he will occasionally take a false step. Aside from that, Smith is an ultra-competitive linebacker with great tackling technique and coverage ability. He also offers pass rush ability. Roquan is very fluid for the position. Change of direction ability is not a problem, and he can drop deep into coverage and stick with his assignment.
College Production:
Fr: 10 Games, 20 Tackles, 0 Sacks, 1.5 TFL, 0 FF
So: 13 Games, 95 Tackles, 0 Sacks, 5.0 TFL, 2 FF
Jr: 15 Games, 137 Tackles, 6.5 Sacks, 14 TFL, 1 FF
Total: 38 Games, 252 Tackles, 6.5 Sacks, 20.5 TFL, 3 FF
Bulldogs defensive coordinator Mel Tucker, an interim head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars at one point in his career that also included coaching positions with the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears, was asked if Smith reminds him of any other great college linebackers.
“Roquan is unique to me,” said Tucker, once an assistant head coach at Alabama who also worked at LSU, Ohio State and Michigan State. “I’ve seen a lot of linebackers over the years that are really good players. Spending 10 years in the NFL, you see all types of guys.
“He has the unique combination of speed, football IQ and physical play, and he loves the game. I think what makes him really special is that he is very, very coachable and he’s a great teammate.”
