CBS Sports’ Sean Wagner-McGough recently listed his top-10 NFL linebackers with former Georgia star and now Chicago Bear Roquan Smith landing at No. 8 on the list.
“Smith is a tremendous blitzer, a good tackler, and has enough speed to track pass catchers downfield and sideline to sideline. If he puts it all together, he’ll be one of the best linebackers in football. I think he’ll do exactly that in 2020 after two good, but not great seasons to begin his career.”
Smith, the 2018 No. 8 pick of the NFL Draft, was an absolute beast during his time at Georgia. He led the team in tackles in 2016 and broke-out in 2017 – totaling 137 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss and 20 quarterback pressures. An amazing season that won him Georgia defensive MVP, 2017 SEC Championship MVP, 2018 Rose Bowl MVP, and the 2017 Butkus Award, given to the nation’s best linebacker.
Here is the full-list of Smith’s awards from his legendary 2017 junior season.
* 2017 Associated Press All-America First Team
* 2017 Walter Camp All-America First Team
* 2017 American Football Coaches Association All-America First Team
* 2017 Football Writers Association of America All-America First Team
* 2017 The Sporting News All-America First Team
* 2017 Phil Steele All-America First Team
* 2017 Butkus Award Winner
* 2017 AP SEC Defensive Player of the Year
* 2017 Coaches’ SEC Defensive Player of the Year
* 2017 Coaches’ & AP All-SEC 1st Team