Signing Day Preview: Defense

Seminoles.com Senior Writer Brandon Mellor breaks down FSU's returning defensive players and looks at the 'Noles' needs on the defensive line, at linebacker and in the secondary heading into National Signing Day 2012.

01/05/2012

4 Downs: A Look Back At 2011

The Seminoles.com crew reflects on Florida State's football season and answers four questions in this second edition of 4 Downs.

01/03/2012

Column: Time To Take Back ACC

The end-goal is a national championship. But before Florida State can return to college-football glory, it has to reclaim its spot atop the Atlantic Coast Conference first, writes Brandon Mellor.

12/26/2011

4 Downs: FSU vs. Notre Dame

Seminoles.com's Brandon Mellor, Ryan Pensy, Scott Kotick and Layne Herdt answer four key questions heading into Thursday's Champs Sports Bowl.

12/04/2011

'Noles Honored

Football Seminoles Honored at Annual Awards Banquet

2011 OUTLOOK
Play-making linebacker who has great range, instincts and athleticism who heads into the fall pushing Vince Williams for the starting job at middle linebacker. Has a knack for finding the football which is why he's always around the pile making tackles. Enjoyed a successful spring practice where he got significant reps and finished as the leading tackler in a couple of scrimmages.

2010
True freshman linebacker, who came in and made an immediate impact on special teams especially on kickoff return coverage where he made several back-breaking tackles...played in all 14 games and registered 18 tackles, one sack and 1.5 tackles for loss...named one of two Special Teams Newcomers of the Year at the annual football banquet.

PERSONAL
Held a four-star ranking from Rivals and a three-star ranking from Scout out of high school...cousin of rising junior, cornerback Greg Reid, who signed out of Lowndes County with the `Noles in 2009 along with safety Gerald Demps...rivals rated Smith as the No. 18 outside linebacker prospect in the country and No. 22 prospect overall in Georgia...No. 8 outside linebacker nationally by ESPN and No. 107 prospect overall...participated in the GACA North/South All-Star Classic...registered 84 tackles, 25 assists and two interceptions as a senior for the powerhouse Vikings...as a junior logged 97 tackles (16 TFLS) and two interceptions for the state AAAAA champions...SuperPrep Georgia ranks him as the No. 25 player in the state...committed to the Seminoles in July 2009 and reaffirmed that decision by selecting FSU over Georgia and LSU...born April 11, 1991.