Countdown to Kickoff: No. 51
Daryl Smith
The countdown to kickoff is officially on as Georgia Tech‘s season-opening matchup at Colorado on Aug. 29 is less than 100 days away.
Until then JOL will be counting it down with one Jackets’ player daily that wore the corresponding number of days remaining until toe meets leather in Boulder.
With it now 51 days until kickoff in Boulder, today’s focus is on No. 51 Daryl Smith, who immediately found his way onto the field at Georgia Tech as a freshman in 2000 and put together four of the most consistent years of any linebacker in the program’s history before going on to a long and productive NFL career.
Smith was one of the top linebacker prospects in the country for the recruiting class of 2000 before choosing to play at Georgia Tech after an incredible high school career at Dougherty High in Albany, Georgia where he was a big part of the Trojans’ only state championship in the program’s history during his junior year in 1998.
After arriving on The Flats, it didn’t take long for Smith to earn playing time as he was a huge contributor on former head coach George O’Leary’s defense as a true freshman, tying for the team lead in tackles that season when the Jackets went 9-3, including a 27-15 victory over rival Georgia in Athens. Smith made a play that is often remembered by Tech fans in that Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate edition as he returned an interception off a tipped pass 69 yards to the end zone for a touchdown or as former Jackets’ radio voice Wes Durham once said he returned that interception “to the land of milk and honey in Athens.”
Smith went on to play in 47 total games over his four seasons at Tech, lettering all four years, leading the team in tackles as a junior and being second on the team in tackles as a senior when he was one of the team captains. He finished his college career with 383 total tackles, 15 sacks, three interceptions and one fumble recovery, but despite his production, he was never selected to an All-ACC Team.
After his final year at Georgia Tech, Smith caught the attention of NFL coaches, general managers and scouts leading up to the 2004 NFL Draft as he had strong measurables at the NFL Scouting Combine and his pro day. He was then picked by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 39th overall pick in the second round in that year’s draft.
Smith proceeded to play nine seasons for the Jaguars followed by three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and then wrapped up his pro career with one season playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In all he played in 190 games in the NFL over his 13-year career with 183 of those being starts and racked up 1,088 total tackles (764 solo), 78 tackles-for-loss, 30.5 sacks, 12 interceptions, 15 forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries, 69 passes defended and two defensive touchdowns. His five forced fumbles in 2014 was good enough to be the co-leader in the NFL that season.
Much like his college career, Smith was under-appreciated as a player in the NFL as he never was selected to a Pro Bowl or as an All-Pro despite his impressive statistical production.
Smith returned to Georgia Tech after his NFL career and finished his degree in 2019. He currently serves as the vice president of Recurrit, LLC in the Atlanta area.
