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:

• 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.
• Collected 7.5 sacks in the first 4 games, including a career-high 3.5 vs. Idaho State, when he had a career-best 9 tackles (4 solo) and 3 stops for loss…Had 3 other multi-sack games: 2.5 sacks vs. Youngstown State, 2.0 vs. Indiana State and 1.5 vs. Missouri State…Registered 4 quarterback hits vs. San Diego.
• In 2018, played in 13 games…Finished with 19 tackles (11 solo) and was 2nd on the team with 7.5 sacks…Posted 5.0 sacks in the final 3 games, including 2.0 vs. both Missouri State and Lamar…Had 2.5 tackles for loss and forced one fumble at South Dakota State.
• In 2017, played in 10 games and was credited with 3 tackles (2 solo), including a half-sack…Recorded his first career tackle at Southern Illinois.
• Redshirted in 2016.

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 was from Northern Iowa.