Aldon Smith
Encyclopedia
Aldon Smith is an American football
outside linebacker who currently plays for the San Francisco 49ers. He was drafted by the 49ers with the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Missouri
.
in Raytown, Missouri
, where he recorded 60 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 12 quarterback sack
s, while adding 7 forced fumbles, 1 blocked punt and 1 safety as a senior. He also stood out on offense, as he caught 34 passes for 570 yards and 4 TDs as a tight end.
Considered only a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Smith was considered No. 5 overall prospect (any position) in the state of Missouri, as well as the No. 27 strongside defensive end in the nation.Smith chose Mizzou over Nebraska, Kansas and Kansas State, among many others.
. He was named the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and a first team freshman All-American. As a sophomore in 2010 he played in nine games, recording 48 tackles and six sacks.
After the season Smith announced that he would forgo his final two years of eligibility and enter the 2011 NFL Draft
.
.Prior the 2011 NFL Draft
he was projected to go in the mid-late first round by mock draft analysis. On Draft day the San Francisco 49ers
, who many analysts believed would select Prince Amukamara
, decided to draft Smith with the 7th overall pick
.In a match against the Philidelphia Eagles in week 4 he recorded his first sack
taking down Michael Vick
.The next 2 weeks Smith would win the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week
in victorys against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
and Detroit Lions
. After a strong month of October Smith became the first 49ers player since Patrick Willis
in 2007
to earn the NFL Rookie of the Month, he recorded 13 tackles, 6.5 sacks including 1 that forced a safety as he helped San Francisco to a 6-1 record.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
outside linebacker who currently plays for the San Francisco 49ers. He was drafted by the 49ers with the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft
2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Missouri
Missouri Tigers football
The Missouri Tigers football team represents the University of Missouri in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team has competed in the North Division of the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996...
.
Early years
Smith attended Raytown High SchoolRaytown Senior High School
Raytown Senior High School is a high school located in Raytown, Missouri. The school was established in 1914. The enrollment of Raytown High School currently stands at 1503 students. The school, located in downtown Raytown, underwent two years of renovations from 1992-1994...
in Raytown, Missouri
Raytown, Missouri
Raytown is a city in Jackson County, Missouri, United States, and is a suburb of Kansas City. The population was at 29,526 in 2010 census. The mayor of Raytown is David Bower.-History:...
, where he recorded 60 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 12 quarterback sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
s, while adding 7 forced fumbles, 1 blocked punt and 1 safety as a senior. He also stood out on offense, as he caught 34 passes for 570 yards and 4 TDs as a tight end.
Considered only a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Smith was considered No. 5 overall prospect (any position) in the state of Missouri, as well as the No. 27 strongside defensive end in the nation.Smith chose Mizzou over Nebraska, Kansas and Kansas State, among many others.
College career
After being redshirted as a freshman in 2008, Smith started 11 of 13 games at defensive end in 2009. He finished the season with 60 tackles and 11 sacksQuarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
. He was named the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and a first team freshman All-American. As a sophomore in 2010 he played in nine games, recording 48 tackles and six sacks.
After the season Smith announced that he would forgo his final two years of eligibility and enter the 2011 NFL Draft
2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
.
College Awards and Honors
- 2009 1st-Team Freshman All-American (College Football News, Phil Steele)
- 2009 Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year (Associated Press)
- 2009 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year (Coaches)
- 2009 Hendricks Award Watch List
- 2009 2nd-Team All-Big 12 (Associated Press)
- 2009 Hon. Men. All-Big 12 (Coaches)
- 2009 Team Defensive Lineman of the Year Award
- 2009 Team Freshman of the Year Award
2011 NFL Draft
Playing as a defensive end at Missouri,Smith was considered a "DE/OLB prospect" by most NFL scouts he was considered a strong edge run defender as 4-3 end or 3-4 linebacker. Many scouts had compared him to DeMarcus WareDemarcus Ware
DeMarcus Ware is an American football linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He was drafted with the 11th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft out of Troy University...
.Prior the 2011 NFL Draft
2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
he was projected to go in the mid-late first round by mock draft analysis. On Draft day the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
, who many analysts believed would select Prince Amukamara
Prince Amukamara
-College career:After arriving at Nebraska, Amukamara contemplated playing basketball on top of football, but dropped those plans after fall football practices began. As a freshman in 2007, Amukamara was described as being a newcomer "with a lot of personality" by senior linebacker Corey McKeon. He...
, decided to draft Smith with the 7th overall pick
2011 NFL season
Smith did not start but did make his NFL debut against the Seattle SeahawksSeattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
.In a match against the Philidelphia Eagles in week 4 he recorded his first sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
taking down Michael Vick
Michael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League...
.The next 2 weeks Smith would win the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week
Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week
Every week during the NFL season, five finalists are chosen for the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week award, and a winner is determined by fan voting online at . At the end of the season, total fan voting from the year is tabulated to determine the five finalists for the Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the...
in victorys against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
and Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
. After a strong month of October Smith became the first 49ers player since Patrick Willis
Patrick Willis
Patrick L. Willis is an American football player who plays inside linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers 11th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft...
in 2007
2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
to earn the NFL Rookie of the Month, he recorded 13 tackles, 6.5 sacks including 1 that forced a safety as he helped San Francisco to a 6-1 record.