Elerson Smith

Elerson Smith
No. 52 – Cleveland Browns
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1998-07-17) July 17, 1998 (age 26)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Height:6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school:Minneapolis South
(Minneapolis, Minnesota)
College:Northern Iowa (2016–2020)
NFL draft:2021 / round: 4 / pick: 116
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Practice squad
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-MVFC (2020)
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:11
Forced fumbles:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Elerson G. Smith (born July 17, 1998) is an American professional football defensive end[1] for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Northern Iowa and was drafted by the Giants in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Early years

Smith was born and grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota and attended Minneapolis South High School.[2] He also lettered in track and field, wrestling and basketball.

College career

Smith redshirted his true freshman season and did not play in any games as a redshirt freshman.[3] He started seeing playing time as a redshirt sophomore and finished the season with 19 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.[4] Smith was named first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference and a first-team FCS All-American by the AFCA after recording 63 total tackles, 14 sacks, 21.5 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles.[5] Smith was named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year before announcing that he would forgo his redshirt senior season, which was to be played in the spring due to Covid-19, and prepare for the 2021 NFL draft.[6] Smith played in the 2021 Senior Bowl.[7]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 6+1⁄4 in
(1.99 m) 		252 lb
(114 kg) 		34 in
(0.86 m) 		10+1⁄4 in
(0.26 m)		 4.75 s 1.60 s 2.76 s 4.39 s 7.11 s 41.5 in
(1.05 m)		 10 ft 7 in
(3.23 m)		 26 reps
All values from Pro Day[8][9][10]

New York Giants

Smith was selected in the fourth round with the 116th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.[11] Smith signed his four-year rookie contract with the Giants on May 25, 2021.[12] He was placed on injured reserve on September 1, 2021 to start the season.[13] On November 6, 2021, Smith was activated from injured reserve.[14] On January 5, 2022, Smith was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury.[15]

On August 31, 2022, Smith was placed on injured reserve.[16] He was activated from injured reserve on October 29.[17] He was placed back on injured reserve on December 16.

On July 25, 2023, Smith was waived by the Giants.[18]

New York Jets

On October 11, 2023, Smith was signed to the practice squad of the New York Jets .[19] He was released on November 1.[20]

Las Vegas Raiders

On November 22, 2023, Smith was signed to the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad.[21] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024.[22] He was waived/injured on August 27, 2024.[23]

Cleveland Browns

On September 25, 2024, Smith was signed to the Cleveland Browns practice squad.[24] He was promoted to the active roster on November 16.[25] He was waived on November 27, and re-signed to the practice squad.[26]

References

  1. ^ "Elerson Smith". Raiders.com.
  2. ^ Nelson, Jim (June 11, 2020). "George Floyd death hits UNI's Elerson G. Smith hard". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  3. ^ Blair, Cole (November 23, 2018). "Elerson Smith finds his place on UNI's deep defensive line". The Gazette. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  4. ^ "Northern Iowa's defense like a brotherhood". Sioux City Journal. September 25, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  5. ^ "Northern Iowa EDGE Elerson Smith declares for 2021 NFL Draft". October 14, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  6. ^ "UNI's Smith accepts invitation to Senior Bowl". The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. November 13, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  7. ^ "UNI's Elerson Smith, Spencer Brown making impression at Senior Bowl". The Gazette. January 28, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  8. ^ "Giants select Elerson Smith with No. 116 pick in 2021 draft". NFL.com. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  9. ^ "2021 Draft Scout Elerson G. Smith, Northern Iowa NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  10. ^ "Elerson Smith 2021 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  11. ^ "Giants draft Northern Iowa LB Elerson Smith in Rd 4". Giants.com. May 1, 2021.
  12. ^ "NFL Draft Signings: 5/25/21".
  13. ^ Eisen, Michael (September 1, 2021). "Giants establish practice squad amid roster moves". Giants.com.
  14. ^ Elsen, Michael (November 6, 2021). "LB Trent Harris, WR Pharoh Cooper elevated from practice squad; LB Elerson Smith activated". Giants.com.
  15. ^ Elsen, Michael (January 5, 2021). "4 Giants activated off COVID list; Elerson Smith to IR". Giants.com.
  16. ^ Fennelly, John (August 31, 2022). "Giants place Shane Lemieux, two others on IR". Giantswire.com.
  17. ^ Citak, Matt (October 29, 2022). "Elerson Smith activated, Ben Bredeson to IR among roster moves". Giants.com. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  18. ^ Salomone, Dan (July 25, 2023). "Giants sign OLB Tashawn Bower, waive OLB Elerson Smith (injured), DB Trenton Thompson". Giants.com.
  19. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (October 11, 2023). "Jets Sign WR Irvin Charles to Active Roster, Place Alijah Vera-Tucker on IR". NewYorkJets.com.
  20. ^ Greenberg, Ethan. "Jets Sign OL Chris Glaser to Active Roster". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  21. ^ Ulrich, Logan. "Raiders Sign DE Elerson Smith To PS, Waive LB Jaylon Smith". NFL Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  22. ^ "Raiders announce 15 Reserve/Future signings". Raiders.com. January 8, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  23. ^ "Raiders make moves to bring roster to 53-player limit". Raiders.com. August 27, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  24. ^ "Browns sign T Germain Ifedi to active roster, place G Wyatt Teller on injured reserve". ClevelandBrowns.com. September 25, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  25. ^ "Browns sign DT Sam Kamara and DE Elerson Smith to active roster". ClevelandBrowns.com. November 16, 2024.
  26. ^ "Browns claim DE Cameron Thomas and DE James Houston". ClevelandBrowns.com. November 27, 2024.