TAMPA, Fla. – Former North Carolina Central University cornerback Ryan Smith is ready for the start of his fifth season in the NFL as he was announced to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 53-man roster on Sept. 5.
Smith led the Bucs in special teams tackles in 2019, and provides the team with valuable depth at cornerback, earning 16 starts on defense over the past four seasons.
The Buccaneers open their highly anticipated season against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 4:25 p.m.
A native of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Smith was a fourth-round pick in 2016 by the Buccaneers, who converted him from his college position to safety during his rookie season. However, he played almost exclusively on special teams as a rookie and then was moved back to cornerback before his second season. In 2017, he opened 10 games and recorded 63 tackles, two forced fumbles and five passes defensed. Smith made six more starts in his third season and recorded his first career interception along with 38 tackles and six passes defensed. He also emerged as a special teams ace, with five kick-coverage tackles and a knack for downing punts near the opponents' goal line.
Last year, Smith was once again one of the team's top special teamers, with a team-leading seven stops and a forced fumble. He appeared on defense in three games and added four tackles and a pass defended.
While at NCCU, Smith capped his standout college tenure from 2012-15 with a school career record 168 solo tackles, while finishing sixth in career tackles with 263 and 11th in passes defended with 31 (seven interceptions and 24 pass break-ups).
As a senior, he ranked third in MEAC with team-best 11 passes defended (two interceptions and nine pass break-ups), while adding 52 tackles (38 solo). Smith also led conference and ranked 10th in the nation with an average of 28.1 yards per kickoff return (14 for 394 yards, 1 TD).
After helping to lead the Eagles to their second straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship, Smith graduated from NCCU on Dec. 12, 2015, with a degree in criminal justice.
Source: Buccaneers.com
