Elerson G. Smith

Originally a 4th-round (116th pick overall) draft choice by the Giants in 2021.

TRANSACTIONS:

• Originally a 4th-round (116th pick overall) draft choice by the Giants in 2021.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

• In 2021, spent the first 8 weeks of the season on injured reserve with a hamstring injury suffered in training camp.
• Played in 8 games and totaled 4 tackles (one solo), 2 quarterback hits, one forced fumble and 4 special teams tackles.
• Made his NFL debut on special teams vs. Las Vegas (11/7) and saw his first career defensive snaps at Tampa Bay (11/22)…Contributed 2 tackles vs. Dallas (12/19)…Forced a fumble on the opening kickoff at Philadelphia (12/26) and added his first career quarterback hit later in the first quarter…Registered two special teams tackles and his 2nd quarterback hit of the season at Chicago (1/2/22).
• Placed on injured reserve with a neck injury prior to Week 18.

COLLEGE:

• Played in 38 games with 15 starts in 3 seasons at Northern Iowa…Career totals included 85 tackles (41 solo), 22.0 sacks, 32.5 tackles for loss, 6 forced fumbles, 16 quarterback hits, 8 passes defensed and 2 blocked kicks…Did not play in what would have been his final season after the Missouri Valley Conference postponed its 2020 season to early 2021…Named MVC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
• In 2019, started all 15 of the Panthers' games...Named first team All-Missouri Valley Conference…First-team FCS selection by the American Football Coaches Association All-American…Recorded career-high totals of 63 tackles (28 solo), 14.0 sacks, 21.5 tackles, a school single-season record 14 quarterback hurries, 5 forced fumbles and 2 blocked kicks for a team that finished 10-5…Led the MVC in sacks, tackles for loss and forced fumbles…In 2018, played in 13 games…Finished with 19 tackles (11 solo) and was second on the team with 7.5 sacks…In 2017, played in 10 games and was credited with 3 tackles (2 solo), including a half-sack…Redshirted in 2016.

OFF-THE-FIELD ACTIVITY:

• Partnered with the Bronx Community Foundation throughout the 2021 season to support their 4 pillars of community, equity & justice, economic security and health in the Bronx.

PERSONAL:

• Psychology major…Lettered in basketball, football, track and wrestling at Minneapolis South High School…Three-year starter at defensive end and tight end…As a senior, named first-team all-state as a tight and second team as a defensive end after finishing the season with 14.5 sacks…As a junior, selected first-team all-conference with 67 tackles, 7.0 sacks and 3 forced fumbles…Contributed 21 catches for 653 yards and 4 touchdowns on offense…Played center on the basketball team and participated in several events in track, including the 400-meters (53.23) and long jump (20'5.5)…His lone scholarship offer was from Northern Iowa.