Ray Smith, DT, Boston College: 2019 NFL Draft

SMITH’S CAREER HIGHS
Tackles: 9 vs. Wake Forest, 9/9/17
Tackles for loss: 1 (2x), last vs. NC State, 11/11/17
Interceptions: 1 vs. UMass, 9/1/18

2018 (SENIOR): Recorded his first career interception and tallied five tackles against UMass (9/1/18)… totaled five tackles and 1.0 TFL at Purdue (9/22/18)… registered six tackles vs. Temple (9/29/18)… made eight tackles, including three solo and 1.0 TFL, at No. 23 NC State (10/6/18)… tallied six tackles and stuffed a pass at the line vs. Miami (10/26/18)… posted four tackles at Virginia Tech (11/3/18)… notched four tackles and a TFL vs. Clemson (11/10/18)… assisted on five tackles vs. No. 19 Syracuse (11/24/18).

2017 (JUNIOR): Started all 12 games at nose tackle in 2017 … 59 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and half a sack … three pass breakups and two quarterback hurries … three tackles in the win at Northern Illinois (Sept. 1) … career-high nine tackles and half a sack against Wake Forest (Sept. 9) … six tackles at No. 2 Clemson (Sept. 23) … seven tackles and a pass deflection in the Central Michigan victory (Sept. 30) … five tackles and a QB hurry in the win at Louisville (Oct. 14) … three tackles and a pass breakup in the UVA win as BC held the Cavaliers to 247 yards of total offense (Oct. 21) … six tackles in the 35-3 win over Florida State (Oct. 27) … five tackles and a TFL against No. 23 NC State (Nov. 11) … eight tackles versus Iowa in the 2017 New Era Pinstripe Bowl (Dec. 27).

2016 (SOPHOMORE): Played in 10 games, making nine starts at nose tackle … missed three games due to injury … registered 24 total tackles, including three tackles for a loss of 15 yards and one sack … part of the defense that ranked on eight top-10 lists, including ninth in total defense (314.2 yards/game), second in sacks (3.62 sacks/game) sixth in tackles-for-loss (8.2 TFL/game) and seventh in rushing defense (108.5 yards/game) … BC defense tied the school record with eight sacks twice, at Massachusetts (Sept. 10) and vs. Maryland (Dec. 26) and recorded at least 10 tackles-for-loss four times … BC’s 47 sacks on the season tied the school record set in 1994 .. recorded four tackles against Georgia Tech (Sept. 3) and at Virginia Tech (Sept. 17) … tallied a career-high five tackles against Buffalo (Oct. 1) … recorded three tackles in the win at NC State (Oct. 29) … suffered a concussion prior to the Florida State game and missed games against FSU, UConn and Wake Forest … returned to the field for the Quick Lane Bowl and recorded first career sack for a loss of 10 yards … part of the defensive line named the bowl MVP.

2015 (FRESHMAN): Saw action in five games on the defensive line … totaled five tackles, including four solo and one tackle for a loss … had a career-high four tackles (three solo, one assisted) vs. Howard (Sept. 12) … added an unassisted tackle at Duke (Oct. 3).

HIGH SCHOOL: Named to the All-CIF second team as a senior … played on the San Diego Division 1 California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Championship in 2013 … led the Dons in game with 15 tackles, including two sacks … played for head coach Sean Doyle … recorded 42 tackles, including 11.5 for loss and 9.5 sacks, in five games in 2014 … notched 56 tackles, including 16 for loss and nine sacks, in seven games in 2013.

PERSONAL: Raymond Charles Smith IV … enrolled in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences as a communication major … Ray is one of Ray and Kacey Smith’s four children … has two sisters, Courtney and Isabella, and a brother, Colman.

Smith played at a true freshman at Boston College, which is always a good gauge on how quickly a player can adapt on the fly. He has made modest improvements each year for the Eagles. He became a consistent and solid performer for Boston College. Smith leaves the university playing in 36-career games (34 over the last three seasons).

He added nearly 50-pounds of bulk a year after leaving Cathedral Catholic in Carlsbad, California. Smith competes hard and gives good effort. He can work the edge and get some penetration. Smith can neutralize double-teams and his best asset is clogging running lanes. He is stout at the point of attack and uses lower-body strength well. Would like to see him get blockers off his frame quicker and do a better job using his hands to disengage.

A developmental prospect with the traits to play the interior at the next level. Effort and desire could be enough to warrant a practice-squad spot. Smith is committed to developing his game even if the National Football League is not his first crack at professional football. The AAF and CFL remain options for the talented Eagles defensive tackle.