One of the best prospects to come out of the Georgia Bulldogs system over the last decade was linebacker Roquan Smith, who wreaked havoc in a Bulldogs uniform and played a vital role in their success during his time there. He became the first Georgia player to win the Butkus Award and was selected eighth overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Now, Smith remains one of the NFL’s most productive defensive players and is gearing up for the postseason with the Baltimore Ravens.
Before that, Georgia made a historic announcement regarding Smith and his career thus far. He officially became the youngest player in NFL history to reach 1,000 tackles—an incredible milestone for the former Bulldogs standout.
Roquan Smith’s career at Georgia spanned from 2015 to 2017. In his final season, he won both SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors and the SEC Defensive MVP of the SEC Championship Game.
As mentioned, he also won the Butkus Award that year, and later, in 2022, he earned the prestigious award again at the NFL level with the Ravens. The Butkus Award is given annually to the best linebacker at the professional, collegiate, and high school levels.
Smith was drafted by the Chicago Bears, and while he was dominant during his tenure in the Windy City, he sought both a bigger payday and a chance to win. After being traded to the Baltimore Ravens, he has lived up to expectations, making the Pro Bowl multiple times since the move.
Now, Smith looks to make a major impact in the playoffs for a Ravens team with Super Bowl aspirations, led by MVP candidate Lamar Jackson. His postseason journey begins Saturday night against division rival Pittsburgh Steelers.