Elerson Smith

Elerson G. Smith (born July 17, 1998) is an American football linebacker for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Northern Iowa and was drafted by the Giants in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Elerson Smith
No. 50 – New York Jets
Position:Outside linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1998-07-17) July 17, 1998
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Height:6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:252 lb (114 kg)
Career information
High school:Minneapolis South
(Minneapolis, Minnesota)
College:Northern Iowa (2016–2020)
NFL Draft:2021 / Round: 4 / Pick: 116
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Practice squad
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-MVFC (2020)
Career NFL statistics as of 2022
Total tackles:11
Forced fumbles:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early life and high school

Smith was born and grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota and attended Minneapolis South High School.[1] He also lettered in track and field, wrestling and basketball.

College career

Smith redshirted his true freshman season and did not play in any games as a redshirt freshman.[2] He started seeing playing time as a redshirt sophomore and finished the season with 19 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.[3] Smith was named first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference and a first-team FCS All-American by the AFCA after recording 63 total tackles, 14 sacks, 21.5 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles.[4] Smith was named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year before announcing that he would forgo his redshirt senior season, which was to be played in the spring due to Covid-19, and prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft.[5] Smith played in the 2021 Senior Bowl.[6]

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 6+1⁄4 in
(1.99 m)		 252 lb
(114 kg)		 34 in
(0.86 m)		 10+1⁄4 in
(0.26 m)		4.75 s1.60 s2.76 s4.39 s7.11 s41.5 in
(1.05 m)		10 ft 7 in
(3.23 m)		26 reps
All values from Pro Day[7][8][9]

New York Giants

Smith was selected in the fourth round with the 116th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.[10] Smith signed his four-year rookie contract with the Giants on May 25, 2021.[11] He was placed on injured reserve on September 1, 2021 to start the season.[12] On November 6, 2021, Smith was activated from injured reserve.[13] On January 5, 2022, Smith was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury.[14]

On August 31, 2022, Smith was placed on injured reserve.[15] He was activated from injured reserve on October 29.[16] He was placed back on injured reserve on December 16.

On July 25, 2023, Smith was waived by the Giants.[17]

New York Jets

On October 11, 2023, Smith was signed to the New York Jets practice squad.[18]

References
  1. "George Floyd death hits UNI's Elerson G. Smith hard". Sioux City Journal. June 11, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  2. Blair, Cole (November 23, 2018). "Elerson Smith finds his place on UNI's deep defensive line". The Gazette. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  3. "Northern Iowa's defense like a brotherhood". Sioux City Journal. September 25, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  4. "Northern Iowa EDGE Elerson Smith declares for 2021 NFL Draft". 14 October 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  5. "UNI's Smith accepts invitation to Senior Bowl". The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. November 13, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  6. "UNI's Elerson Smith, Spencer Brown making impression at Senior Bowl". The Gazette. January 28, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  7. "Giants select Elerson Smith with No. 116 pick in 2021 draft". NFL.com. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  8. "2021 Draft Scout Elerson G. Smith, Northern Iowa NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  9. "Elerson Smith 2021 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  10. "Giants draft Northern Iowa LB Elerson Smith in Rd 4". Giants.com. May 1, 2021.
  11. "NFL Draft Signings: 5/25/21".
  12. Eisen, Michael (September 1, 2021). "Giants establish practice squad amid roster moves". Giants.com.
  13. Elsen, Michael (November 6, 2021). "LB Trent Harris, WR Pharoh Cooper elevated from practice squad; LB Elerson Smith activated". Giants.com.
  14. Elsen, Michael (January 5, 2021). "4 Giants activated off COVID list; Elerson Smith to IR". Giants.com.
  15. Fennelly, John (August 31, 2022). "Giants place Shane Lemieux, two others on IR". Giantswire.com.
  16. Cltak, Matt (October 29, 2022). "Elerson Smith activated, Ben Bredeson to IR among roster moves". Giants.com.
  17. Salomone, Dan (July 25, 2023). "Giants sign OLB Tashawn Bower, waive OLB Elerson Smith (injured), DB Trenton Thompson". Giants.com.
  18. Greenberg, Ethan (October 11, 2023). "Jets Sign WR Irvin Charles to Active Roster, Place Alijah Vera-Tucker on IR". NewYorkJets.com.
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