Le Kevin Smith

• 2005 Lombardi Award Watch List
• 2004 Honorable-Mention All-Big 12 (AP)
• 2005 Preseason No. 18 DT in Nation (The Sporting News)
• 2003 Big 12 Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll
• 2002 First-Team Freshman All-Big 12 (The Sporting News)

2005 (Senior)
Le Kevin Smith (pronounced Leh-KEE-vin) completed a standout Nebraska career in 2005 by anchoring a Blackshirt defense that led the nation in sacks and tackles for loss. A three-year starter, Smith has been a fixture on the Nebraska defensive front each of the past four seasons, playing in 49 career games, including starting the final 34 games of his Nebraska career.

As a senior, the Macon, Ga., native held up strong while taking on the middle of opposing offensive lines. Smith finished the season with a career-best six sacks to rank in a tie for third on the team, helping Nebraska record 50 total sacks. Smith capped his career with a sack and a career-high three tackles for loss in Nebraska’s Alamo Bowl victory over Michigan. He finished his senior season with 13 tackles for loss, the fifth-most on the team, and he had at least one tackle for loss in nine of 12 games. His 13 TFL’s in 2005 pushed his career total to 36 tackles for loss, good for eighth on the Nebraska career charts and second among interior defensive linemen. Smith’s 11 and 13 tackle for loss seasons in 2004 and 2005, respectively, were the most for an interior lineman since Steve Warren had 15 TFL in 1999.

Smith finished the 2005 season with 43 tackles, including six games with four or more tackles. His 43 tackles pushed his career total to 172 stops, good for 36th on the NU career tackle chart, and sixth among defensive linemen.

The 6-2, 305-pound Smith opened the 2005 season with a career-best two sacks in a 25-7 win over Maine. His effort helped the NU defense tie school team records with 11 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. Smith snagged his first career interception in the final minutes of play in NU’s close loss to Texas Tech.

Smith added his second two-sack game of the season during NU’s 23-14 road victory over Baylor. He served as a run-stuffing force against Oklahoma, as he collected a season-high six tackles, including one for a two-yard loss. Smith capped the regular season with three tackles at Colorado, including a four-yard sack, his fifth of the season, then tied his season-high with six tackles against Michigan.

Smith was one of 12 Huskers who play in the Alamo Bowl with their degree in hand, after graduating in December of 2005 with a construction management degree.

2004 (Junior)
Smith started all 11 games and finished with 43 tackles, the most among Nebraska defensive linemen. He had 11 tackles for loss, tied for second among Husker defenders and had 2.5 sacks for 14 yards.

Smith had a season-high seven tackles against Southern Miss and made six tackles each against Kansas State and Colorado, while making five stops against Missouri. He had two tackles for loss on three occasions (Southern Miss, Missouri, Colorado). He also hurried opposing quarterbacks four times on the season. Smith's play was a factor in Nebraska ranking 11th nationally in rush defense at 104.0 yards per game.

2003 (Sophomore)
Smith finished the 2003 season with 44 tackles, including 20 solo stops and had six tackles for loss. He started 12 games and sat out the Utah State contest with an injury. The Husker defense ranked in the top 15 nationally in four major defensive categories and was second nationally in takeaways. He also had four quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

Smith had a career-high 10 tackles, including seven solo stops at Missouri, picking up the slack for senior nose tackle Ryon Bingham who was out with an injury. Smith added five tackles in three other contests, including the Penn State, Troy State and Kansas State games. Against the Nittany Lions, he also had a season-high two tackles for loss. Smith recovered a fumble in the third quarter against Texas A&M, one of Nebraska's school-record eight takeaways on the day. He capped his sophomore season with a six-yard tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry in the Alamo Bowl.

2002 (Redshirt Freshman)
Smith recovered quickly from off-season knee surgery and was one of five players to see extensive action at the defensive tackle spots. He played in all 14 games and finished with 42 tackles, including 16 solo stops. Smith also had six tackles for loss, a sack and five quarterback hurries. His performance earned him first-team freshman All-Big 12 selection by The Sporting News.

Smith had five games with four or more tackles, including four tackles, two tackles for loss and his only sack against Utah State. He had a season-high five tackles and a tackle for loss against Kansas and capped his freshman year with five tackles, a tackle for loss and two quarterback hurries in the Independence Bowl. Smith also had two quarterback hurries against Texas.

2001 (Redshirt)
Smith underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL shortly after arriving in Lincoln and sat out his first season as a redshirt.

Before Nebraska (Stratford Academy)
Smith was one of the top defensive linemen in the country at Stratford Academy in Macon, Ga. He was named the USA Today Georgia Player of the Year and was an All-American according to SuperPrep and Rivals.com. Smith played defensive tackle and some offensive tackle in short yardage and goal-line situations, helping Stratford Academy and Coach Rodney Collins win two Class 3A state championships.

Smith had 87 tackles (45 solo), including 20 tackles for loss as a senior. He also caused two fumbles, recovered four fumbles (one for a touchdown), had an interception, 13 quarterback hurries and a blocked punt that he returned 48 yards for a touchdown. He was a first-team coaches’ all-state defensive lineman and the Macon Telegraph’s all-city player of the year. He was the Macon Touchdown Club Lineman of the Year and Georgia Player of the Year.

A four-year letterwinner in track, Smith won three state titles in the discus and two in the shot put. His performance helped Stratford Academy to three straight track titles. His toss of 185-5 in the discus ranked first in the state, while his mark of 59-9 1/2 in the shot was second. He picked Nebraska after visiting Auburn and Florida State.

Personal
The son of Kimberly Smith, Le Kevin was born on July 21, 1982. Le Kevin earned his bachelor's degree from Nebraska in December of 2005, after majoring in construction management. He was named to the 2003 Big 12 Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll.

Smith's Career Statistics

Tackles, 1 UT, 4 AT, 5 TT; 1-1 TFL, 2 QB Hurries
2003 Alamo Bowl vs. Michigan State: Tackles, 1 UT, 0 AT, 1 TT; 1-6 TFL, QB Hurry (INT caused)
2005 Alamo Bowl vs. MIchigan: Tackles, 4 UT, 2 AT, 6 TT; 3-4 TFL; 1-2 Sack

Single-Game Bests
Tackles - 10 at Missouri, 2003
Solo Tackles - 7 at Missouri, 2003
Tackles For Loss - 3-4 vs. Michigan State, 2005 Alamo Bowl
Sacks - 2-17 vs. Baylor, 2005; 2-12 vs. Maine, 2005
QB Hurries - 2 vs. Texas, 2002; vs. Ole Miss, 2002 Independence Bowl
Passes Broken Up - 2 vs. Iowa State, 2003