{{Short description|American football player (born 1997)}} {{For|the Australian horse trainer|Tommy J. Smith}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = T. J. Smith | current_team = | number = | position = Defensive tackle | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|4|19|mf=y}} | birth_place = Moultrie, Georgia, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 3 | weight_lb = 300 | high_school = North Stanly<br>(New London, North Carolina)<br>Colquitt County<br>(Moultrie, Georgia) | college = Arkansas (2016–2019) | undraftedyear = 2020 | pastteams = * Los Angeles Chargers ({{NFL Year|2020}})* * Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|2021|2023}}) * Carolina Panthers ({{NFL Year|2024}}) * Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2025}})* * Orlando Storm ({{UFL Year|2026}})* | status =Active | highlights = | statleague = | statseason = 2023 | statweek = | statlabel1 = Total tackles | statvalue1 = 11 | statlabel2 = | statvalue2 = | statlabel3 = | statvalue3 = | pfr = SmitTJ00 }}
'''Fredrick''' "'''T. J.'''" '''Smith''' (born April 19, 1997) is an American professional football defensive tackle. He played college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Chargers in {{NFL Year|2020}}. Smith also played for the Minnesota Vikings.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3916917/tj-smith| title = T.J. Smith Stats, News, Bio {{!}} ESPN}}</ref>
==Early life== Smith was born in Moultrie, Georgia to Frederick and Avis Smith. Smith originally attended North Stanly High School, where he was all-state for North Carolina high school football. Leading into his senior year, Smith transferred to Colquitt County High School. He helped Colquitt County win the state title in their respective region.<ref>{{cite web|title=Defensive end has room left to grow|url=https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2015/jul/15/defensive-end-has-room-left-grow/|website=NWAonline.com|date=July 15, 2015}}</ref>
==College career== Rated as the 142nd best player in the nation by ESPN, Smith chose to attend Arkansas after changing his original commitment to Vanderbilt. Smith redshirted his freshman year and in his redshirt freshman year, Smith only played in five games and had minimal statistics. In his sophomore year, Smith started all twelve games and improved his tackle amount from four in the year prior to twenty-six. In his junior year, Smith once again played in all twelve games. Smith's contributions in his Junior year helped Arkansas tally a team total of 882 tackles that year. In his senior and final year, Smith for a third time started all twelve games, although his tackle amount decreased from the previous two years.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/roster/t-j-smith/ | title=T.J. Smith | date=July 20, 2015 }}</ref>
==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 6 | height in = 2 1/2 | weight = 296 | dash = 5.00 | ten split = 1.69 | twenty split = 2.84 | shuttle = 4.59 | cone drill = 7.47 | vertical = 30.5 | broad ft = 9 | broad in = 4 | bench = 29 | arm span = 34 | hand span = 10 | note = All values from Pro Day<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1019253&DraftYear=2020 |title=2020 NFL Draft Scout T.J. Smith College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=February 3, 2024}}</ref> }}
===Los Angeles Chargers=== After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft, Smith was signed by the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent. Smith spent the entirety of the 2020 NFL season on the practice squad and was released before the 2021 regular season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chargers 90-in-90: DT T.J. Smith|url=https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/2021/6/10/22522753/chargers-news-nfl-90-in-90-t-j-smith-arkansas|work=Bolts from the Blue|publisher=SB Nation|date=June 10, 2021}}</ref>
===Minnesota Vikings=== Midway through the 2021 NFL season, the Minnesota Vikings signed Smith to their practice squad.<ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=Jack |date=October 5, 2021 |title=Vikings sign DT T.J. Smith to the practice squad, place Harrison Hand on COVID-19/Reserve list |url=https://vikingswire.usatoday.com/2021/10/05/vikings-sign-dt-t-j-smith-to-the-practice-squad-place-harrison-hand-on-covid-19-reserve-list/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=Vikings Wire |publisher=USA Today}}</ref> Smith was then elevated to the active roster before the week 12 game against the San Francisco 49ers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vikings Activate Myles Dorn, Elevate T.J. Smith|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-activate-myles-dorn-elevate-t-j-smith|author=Peters, Craig|website=Vikings.com|date=November 27, 2021}}</ref> He signed a reserve/future contract with the Vikings on January 10, 2022.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vikings Sign 8 Players to Reserve/Future Contracts|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-sign-8-players-to-reserve-future-contracts|website=Vikings.com|date=January 10, 2022}}</ref>
On August 30, 2022, Smith was waived by the Vikings as a part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/roster-moves-initial-53-man-waived-injured-2022|title=Vikings Announce Roster Moves, Set Initial 53-Man Roster|website=Vikings.com|date=August 30, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-sign-12-players-to-practice-squad|title=Vikings Sign 12 Players to Practice Squad|website=Vikings.com|date=August 31, 2022}}</ref> He signed a reserve/future contract on January 20, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vikings sign defensive lineman T.J. Smith to futures deal|url=https://www.twincities.com/2023/01/20/vikings-sign-defensive-lineman-t-j-smith-to-futures-deal/|website=TwinCities.com|date=January 20, 2023}}</ref>
On August 29, 2023, Smith was waived by the Vikings as part of final roster cuts and signed to the practice squad the next day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Craig |date=August 29, 2023 |title=Vikings Set Initial 53-Man Roster for 2023 |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/roster-moves-initial-53-man-waived-injured-2023 |access-date=October 24, 2023 |website=Vikings.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Craig |date=August 30, 2023 |title=Vikings Sign 12 Players to 2023 Practice Squad |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/2023-sign-12-players-practice-squad |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=Vikings.com}}</ref> He was promoted to the active roster on December 30.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vikings place linebacker Troy Dye on injured reserve |url=https://www.startribune.com/vikings-place-linebacker-troy-dye-on-injured-reserve/600331491 |website=StarTribune.com |access-date=23 March 2026}}</ref>
===Carolina Panthers=== On May 13, 2024, Smith signed with the Carolina Panthers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gantt |first=Darin |date=May 13, 2024 |title=Panthers sign two defenders after workout |url=https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-sign-two-defenders-after-workout-cam-gill-tj-smith |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=Panthers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> He was waived on August 27, and re-signed to the practice squad.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gantt |first=Darin |date=August 27, 2024 |title=Panthers make moves to get to initial 53-man roster |url=https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-make-moves-to-get-to-initial-53-man-roster |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=Panthers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gantt |first=Darin |date=August 28, 2024 |title=Nine players signed to practice squad |url=https://www.panthers.com/news/nine-players-signed-to-practice-squad |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=Panthers.com}}</ref> He was promoted to the active roster on October 19.<ref>{{cite web|title=Panthers add two to active roster Saturday|url=https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-add-two-to-active-roster-saturday-dane-jackson-tj-smith-troy-hill|author=Gantt, Darin|website=Panthers.com|date=October 19, 2024}}</ref> Smith was released and re-signed to the practice squad on October 23.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rizzutti |first=Anthony |date=23 October 2024 |title=Panthers sign 2 players back to their practice squad on Wednesday |url=https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2024/10/23/panthers-sign-practice-squad-chadler-wooten-tj-smith/ |access-date=24 October 2024 |website=Panthers Wire|publisher=USA Today}}</ref>
===Tennessee Titans=== On August 18, 2025, Smith signed with the Tennessee Titans.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wyatt |first1=Jim |title=Titans Sign Defensive Tackle T.J. Smith |url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-sign-defensive-tackle-t-j-smith |website=tennesseetitans.com |access-date=19 August 2025}}</ref> However, Smith was released by the Titans during preliminary roster cuts on August 25.<ref>{{cite web|title=Titans Part Ways With 16 Players Ahead of Tuesday's Deadline|url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-part-ways-with-16-players-ahead-of-tuesday-s-deadline|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TennesseeTitans.com|date=August 25, 2025}}</ref>
=== Orlando Storm === On March 9, 2026, Smith signed with the Orlando Storm of the United Football League (UFL).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sauter |first=Aaron |date=2026-03-08 |title=RB Corbin Returns to the Storm's Roster, and Orlando Also Adds DT T.J. Smith |url=https://uflnewshub.com/ufl/rb-corbin-returns-to-the-storms-roster-and-orlando-also-adds-dt-tj-smith |access-date=2026-03-10 |website=uflnewshub.com |language=en}}</ref> He was released on March 19.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Larsen |first1=James |title=Orlando Storm Finalize 2026 UFL Roster With Cutdowns |url=https://pfnewsroom.com/news/orlando-storm-finalize-2026-ufl-roster-with-cutdowns/ |website=PFNewsroom.com |access-date=23 March 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/roster/t-j-smith/ Arkansas Razorbacks bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, T. J.}} Category:1997 births Category:Living people Category:American football defensive tackles Category:Arkansas Razorbacks football players Category:Los Angeles Chargers players Category:Minnesota Vikings players Category:Sportspeople from Moultrie, Georgia Category:Players of American football from Colquitt County, Georgia Category:Carolina Panthers players Category:Tennessee Titans players