Justin Smith Season 2002

Justin Smith has been a key contributor at rush end for each of the past four seasons and finished his NU career with a strong senior campaign. Smith's role this fall increased when fellow senior rush end Chris Kelsay was sidelined for five games with a hamstring injury. Smith was up to the task, averaging nearly six tackles per game while Kelsay was out. Smith is listed second behind Kelsay at left end for the bowl game and is one of four rush ends expected to play. Smith played his senior season with his degree in hand and took graduate classes this fall.

2002: Smith played in all 13 games and earned starts against Texas A&M and Kansas. He finished the season with 45 tackles and eight tackles for loss, along with 1.5 sacks. Smith's 12 quarterback hurries ranked in a tie for third among all Huskers.

Smith opened the year with three tackles and an assist on a nine-yard sack against Arizona State. Smith had five tackles and a sack against Missouri, then had a standout game in his home state at Texas A&M. He recorded four tackles, including three TFL and a sack, along with three hurries, one of which caused an Aggie interception. He added a tackle for loss against Texas the following week, then had a season-high nine tackles, including two TFL and a pair of quarterback hurries, against Kansas.

2001: Smith was part of a four-man rotation at rush end pairing up with Kelsay on the left side. He played in every game and recorded 27 tackles, including 10 solo stops. He had nine tackles for loss, third best on the team, and four sacks for 22 yards lost. Nebraska's rush ends had 16.5 sacks for 110 yards lost last season (Adams 5.5-46, Kelsay 5-24, Smith 4-22 and Wichmann 2-18). Smith also had one quarterback hurry, a fumble return for seven yards and one fumble caused. He had a career-best five tackles vs. Iowa State and at least three tackles in six games. Smith's four sacks came in five games; 1-8 vs. TCU, 1-7 vs. Troy State, 0.5-2 vs. Iowa State, 0.5-4 at Baylor and 1-1 at Kansas. He had two tackles for loss three times, vs. TCU, Iowa State and Kansas. He forced a fumble at Kansas and recovered a fumble on a missed snap to the punter vs. Notre Dame, getting a seven-yard return on the recovery. He had one solo tackle vs. Miami in the 2002 Rose Bowl.

2000: Smith played in every game, rotating with starters Kelsay and Adams at left rush end. Smith totaled 14 tackles, including eight solo stops and two tackles for two yards lost (1-1 vs. San Jose State and Kansas). He also had four quarterback hurries (one each in four games). His best performance was three tackles (all solos) in the season opener vs. San Jose State. He was also a member of the kickoff coverage team. Smith played in the 2000 Alamo Bowl, but did not have a tackle.

1999: Smith played in 11 of the Huskers' 12 games as a backup left rush end to Aaron Wills and Kelsay. He did not play in the first game against Iowa, recovering from a shoulder sprain suffered in preseason practices. Smith totaled 12 tackles on the season with two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks for 10 yards lost. He had a season-best four tackles against Texas A&M, when he also had a personal-best three solo stops. He was in on a six-yard sack of Aggie QB Randy McCown. His other tackle for loss was a four-yard sack at Missouri. Smith saw action in the Fiesta Bowl vs. Tennessee, but did not have a tackle.

1998: After suffering a shoulder separation three days into fall camp, Smith, a scholarship athlete, redshirted his first season.

At Sherman HS: Smith earned All-America honors from SuperPrep as a defensive end and was that publication's Southwest Region Defensive Player of the Year. He earned honorable-mention all-state honors for Class 4A Sherman playing for Coach Ronnie Tipps. Sherman advanced to the second round of the state playoffs in 1996 and 1997, as Smith had 90 tackles (50 solo), 12 sacks and served as a blocking tight end. Smith earned three letters in football, three in track and two in powerlifting. He chose Nebraska over Kansas State, Texas and Missouri.

Personal: Born on Feb. 6, 1980, Justin is the son of Martha and Mark Smith. He has volunteered with American Education Week and at the First Plymouth Preschool. His brother, Jason, was an all-conference defensive tackle at Harding University in Arkansas.

Fumble Returns: 1-7-0 vs. Notre Dame

2000 Fiesta Bowl vs. Tennessee: Tackles, none
2000 Alamo Bowl vs. Northwestern: Tackles, none
2002 Rose Bowl vs. Miami: Tackles, 1 UT, 0 AT, 1 TT