A.J. Smith

2021 (Fall)

Acquired seven total tackles (six solo, one ast.) in a victory over Towson (Nov. 6)
Delivered one total tackle (one solo) in a win over New Hampshire (Oct. 30)
Added one pass breakup vs. Stony Brook
Raked in six total tackles (four solo, two ast.), including one tackle for loss in a matchup vs. Stony Brook (Oct. 23)
Notched five total tackles (four solo, one ast) in a contest against JMU (Oct. 16)
Tallied five total tackles (three solo, two ast.) including two tackles for loss vs Elon (Oct. 4)
Posted six total tackles (three solo, three ast.) in a matchup against Virginia Tech (Sept. 25)
Notched 10 total tackles (six, solo, 4 ast.) including one tackle for loss, in matchup vs Villanova (Sept. 18)
Recorded five total tackles (one solo, four tackles) in a win vs. Lehigh (Sept. 11)
Made debut start for the Spiders in a victory over Howard (Sept. 4)

At VMI

Four-year letterwinner and starter at safety at VMI.
Played in 41 career games with 36 career starts for the Keydets.
Made 269 career tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss.
Intercepted four passed and broke up 15 passes in his career.
Named First Team All-Southern Conference during the 2021 spring season, helping VMI to the NCAA FCS Playoffs and a SoCon title.
Recorded 64 tackles in eight games while intercepting one pass and defending three from his safety position.
Named First Team All-SoCon in 2019 as a junior when he started 11 of 12 games at safety.
Placed fourth on the team with 67 tackles.
Led the team and ranked second in the SoCon with three interceptions.
Recorded a season-high 11 tackles against Mercer, including a career-high three sacks.
Named CoSIDA Academic All-District in 2019.
Started all 11 games at safety.
Tied for the team lead with 90 tackles, ranking sixth in the SoCon at 8.2 tackles per game.
Led the Keydets with 55 solo tackles.
Logged a season-high 11 tackles against ETSU and 10 tackles against both Western Carolina and The Citadel.
Named a CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team in 2018.
Played in all 11 games as a freshman, starting the final seven games of the year.
Ranked sixth on the team with 48 tackles while adding two pass breakups.
Had six games with five or more tackles.
Named to the SoCon All-Freshman Team.

High School

Played at Cox High School in Virginia Beach.
Named a top 50 Recruit by the Virginian-Pilot in 2017 in South Hampton Roads.
First Team All-Conference selection and Second Team All-Region.
Also lettered in basketball for three years, earning Second Team All-Conference as a senior.