Eagles Select Smith with the No. 26 Pick
May 08, 2014 | Football
May 8, 2014
LOUISVILLE, Ky.- University of Louisville senior defensive end Marcus Smith was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 26th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, held Thursday night at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
Smith, a 6-3, 260-pound defensive end from Columbus, Ga., becomes the 10th first-round draft pick in school history after Calvin Pryor was selected earlier by the New York Jets with the 18th pick in the first round. It's the first time in school history the Cardinals had two players picked in the first round of the draft.
Recruited as a quarterback and moved to the defensive side of the football in 2010, Smith concluded a remarkable transformation this season by leading the nation in sacks with 14.5 and led the Cardinals with 17.5 tackles for loss. The Cardinals led the country in sacks, total defense and rushing defense in finishing with a 12-1 record and were ranked 13th in country in the final polls.
The American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Smith recorded 41 tackles and forced a team-high four fumbles. He recorded multiple sacks in five games a year ago, including a career-high three in a win over Rutgers.
For his outstanding efforts this season, Smith was named to numerous All-American squads. He was a first-team FWAA A honoree, a second teamer on the Walter Camp and USA Today teams and was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award, given to the nation's top defensive end.
Smith, who played as a true freshman, finished his career with 24.0 sacks, which ranks seventh in school history and also finished with 32 tackles for loss, which is tied for sixth all-time.
