# Tanzel Smart

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tanzel_Smart.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanzel_Smart
> Source revision: 1355399750
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|American football player (born 1994)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{infobox NFL biography
| name         = Tanzel Smart
| image        = Tanzel Smart, 2018 preseason (cropped).jpg
| caption      = Smart with the [Los Angeles Rams](/source/Los_Angeles_Rams) in 2018
| current_team = Tennessee Titans
| number       =
| position     = Assistant defensive line coach
| career_position     =dt
| career_number       =92, 79
| birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1994|11|6}}
| birth_place  = [Baton Rouge, Louisiana](/source/Baton_Rouge%2C_Louisiana), U.S.
| height_ft    = 6
| height_in    = 1
| weight_lbs   = 295
| high_school  = [Scotlandville Magnet](/source/Scotlandville_Magnet_High_School) {{avoid wrap|(Baton Rouge)}}
| college      = [Tulane](/source/Tulane_Green_Wave_football) (2013–2016)
| draftyear    = 2017
| draftround   = 6
| draftpick    = 189
| pastteams    = * [Los Angeles Rams](/source/Los_Angeles_Rams) ({{NFL Year|2017}}–{{NFL Year|2019}})
* [Buffalo Bills](/source/Buffalo_Bills) ({{NFL Year|2020}})*
* [Cleveland Browns](/source/Cleveland_Browns) ({{NFL Year|2020}})*
* [New York Jets](/source/New_York_Jets) ({{NFL Year|2020|2023}})
| pastcoaching = * [Dallas Cowboys](/source/Dallas_Cowboys) ({{NFL Year|2025}})<br>Defensive quality control assistant
*                 [Tennessee Titans](/source/Tennessee_Titans) ({{NFL Year|2026}}–present)<br>Assistant defensive line coach
| status       = 
| highlights   = * First-team All-[AAC](/source/American_Athletic_Conference) ([2016](/source/2016_American_Athletic_Conference_football_season))
| statseason   = 
| statweek     = 
| statlabel1   = [Total tackles](/source/Tackle_(football_move))
| statvalue1   = 31
| statlabel2   = [Sacks](/source/Quarterback_sack)
| statvalue2   = 
| statlabel3   = [Pass deflections](/source/Pass_defended)
| statvalue3   = 1
| statlabel4   = [Forced fumbles](/source/Fumble)
| statvalue4   = 
| statlabel5   = [Interception](/source/Interception)s
| statvalue5   = 
| pfr          = SmarTa00 
}}

'''Tanzel Eric Smart Jr.''' (born November 6, 1994) is an American professional [football](/source/American_football) coach and former [defensive tackle](/source/defensive_tackle) who is an assistant defensive line coach for the Tennessee Titans of the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL). He played [college football](/source/college_football) for the [Tulane Green Wave](/source/Tulane_Green_Wave_football), and was selected by the [Los Angeles Rams](/source/Los_Angeles_Rams) in the sixth round of the [2017 NFL draft](/source/2017_NFL_draft).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nola.com/tulane/2017/04/tulane_dt_tanzel_smart_chosen.html |title=Tulane's Tanzel Smart chosen by the L.A. Rams in the 6th round of the 2017 NFL Draft |last=Guillory |first=William |date=April 30, 2017 |website=nola.com |language=en-US |access-date=February 25, 2019}}</ref> He also played for the [Buffalo Bills](/source/Buffalo_Bills), [Cleveland Browns](/source/Cleveland_Browns), and [New York Jets](/source/New_York_Jets).

==College career==
Smart attended and  played  [college football](/source/college_football) for [Tulane University](/source/Tulane_University) in [New Orleans, Louisiana](/source/New_Orleans%2C_Louisiana).

==Playing career==
{{NFL predraft
|    height ft = 6
|    height in = 0 5/8
|       weight = 296
|         dash = 5.22
|    ten split = 1.83
| twenty split = 3.00
|      shuttle = 4.57
|   cone drill = 7.53
|     vertical = 27.0
|     broad ft = 8
|     broad in = 9
|        bench = 25
|    wonderlic = 
|     arm span = 32 7/8
|    hand span = 9 5/8
|         note = All values from [NFL Combine](/source/NFL_Combine)/[Pro Day](/source/Pro_Day)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zierlein |first=Lance |title=Tanzel Smart Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/tanzel-smart/3200534d-4179-1275-7efe-091fb227948c |access-date=March 15, 2020 |website=NFL.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2017 NFL Draft Scout Tanzel Smart College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1006843&DraftYear=2017 |access-date=August 4, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}</ref>
}}

===Los Angeles Rams===
Smart was selected in the sixth round with the 189th overall pick by the [Los Angeles Rams](/source/Los_Angeles_Rams) in the [2017 NFL draft](/source/2017_NFL_draft).<ref>{{cite web|title=2017 NFL Draft Results: Los Angeles Rams Select Tulane DT Tanzel Smart With 189th Pick|url=http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2017/4/29/15487254/2017-nfl-draft-results-los-angeles-rams-tulane-dt-tanzel-smart|author=Webb, Josh|website=TurfShowTimes.com|date=April 29, 2017|access-date=May 13, 2017}}</ref>

On May 15, 2020, Smart was released by the Rams.<ref name="b646">{{cite web | last=Jackson | first=Stu | title=Rams re-sign Morgan Fox, release Tanzel Smart | website=TheRams.com | date=2020-05-15 | url=https://www.therams.com/news/re-sign-morgan-fox-release-tanzel-smart | access-date=2025-02-08}}</ref>

===Buffalo Bills===
On August 16, 2020, Smart signed with the [Buffalo Bills](/source/Buffalo_Bills).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Glab |first=Maddy |date=August 16, 2020 |title=Bills sign DTs Justin Zimmer and Tanzel Smart |url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-sign-dts-justin-zimmer-and-tanzel-smart |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=BuffaloBills.com}}</ref> He was waived by Buffalo on September 5.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Chris |date=September 5, 2020 |title=Bills announce these moves to get to the 53-man roster limit |url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-announce-these-moves-to-get-to-the-53-man-roster-limit |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=BuffaloBills.com}}</ref>

===Cleveland Browns===
On September 11, 2020, Smart was signed to the [practice squad](/source/practice_squad) of the [Cleveland Browns](/source/Cleveland_Browns).<ref>{{cite web|title=Browns sign DTs Joey Ivie and Tanzel Smart to practice squad|url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-sign-dts-joey-ivie-and-tanzel-smart-to-practice-squad|website=ClevelandBrowns.com|date=September 11, 2020}}</ref> He was released by the Browns on September 22.<ref>{{cite news |title=Browns sign K Matthew McCrane, DE Jalen Jelks to practice squad |url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-sign-k-matthew-mccrane-de-jalen-jelks-to-practice-squad |publisher=ClevelandBrowns.com |date=September 22, 2020}}</ref>

===New York Jets===
On October 14, 2020, Smart was signed to the [New York Jets](/source/New_York_Jets)' practice squad.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jets Designate WR Denzel Mims, 2 Others to Return to Practice|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-designate-wr-denzel-mims-2-others-to-return-to-practice|author=Greenberg, Ethan|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=October 14, 2020}}</ref> He was elevated to the active roster on November 9 and December 19 for the team's weeks 9 and 15 games against the [New England Patriots](/source/New_England_Patriots) and Rams, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.<ref>{{cite news |author=Greenberg, Ethan |title=Jets Activate CB Bryce Hall, Place TE Trevon Wesco on Injured Reserve |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-activate-cb-bryce-hall-place-te-trevon-wesco-on-injured-reserve |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109214424/https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-activate-cb-bryce-hall-place-te-trevon-wesco-on-injured-reserve |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |website=NewYorkJets.com |date=November 9, 2020 |access-date=December 15, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Greenberg, Ethan |title=Jets Activate K Sam Ficken from Injured Reserve |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-activate-k-sam-ficken-from-injured-reserve |website=NewYorkJets.com |date=December 19, 2020 |access-date=February 3, 2021 |archive-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120085259/https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-activate-k-sam-ficken-from-injured-reserve |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was promoted to the active roster on January 2, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Greenberg|first=Ethan|date=January 2, 2021|title=Jets Activate RG Greg Van Roten from Injured Reserve, Waive K Sam Ficken|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-activate-rg-greg-van-roten-from-injured-reserve-waive-k-sam-ficken|access-date=January 4, 2021|website=New York Jets Official Website}}</ref>

On August 31, 2021, Smart was waived by the Jets and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lange |first=Randy |last2=Greenberg |first2=Ethan |date=August 31, 2021 |title=Jets Remove 27 Players from Roster to Reach 53-Man Limit |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-53-man-roster-2021-season |access-date=January 16, 2024 |website=NewYorkJets.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Jets Sign 13 to the Practice Squad|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-practice-squad-2021-season|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=September 1, 2021|access-date=September 3, 2021|archive-date=September 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925095109/https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-practice-squad-2021-season|url-status=dead}}</ref> He signed a reserve/future contract with the Jets on January 10, 2022.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jets Sign 10 Players to Reserve/Future Contracts|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-10-players-to-reserve-future-contracts|author=Greenberg, Ethan|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=January 10, 2022}}</ref>

On August 30, 2022, Smart was waived by the Jets and signed to the practice squad the next day.<ref>{{cite web|title=Final Cuts: Jets Move 27 Players to Trim Roster to NFL's 53-Man Limit|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-53-man-roster-2022-season|last1=Lange|first1=Randy|last2=Greenberg|first2=Ethan|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=August 30, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Jets Sign 13 Players to Practice Squad|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-practice-squad-2022-season|author=Lange, Randy|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=August 31, 2022}}</ref> He signed a reserve/future contract on January 9, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jets Sign DL Tanzel Smart to Reserve/Future Contract|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-dl-tanzel-smart-to-reserve-future-contract|author=Greenberg, Ethan|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=January 10, 2023}}</ref>

On August 29, 2023, Smart was released by the Jets and re-signed to the practice squad.<ref>{{cite web|title=Final Cuts: Jets Move 31 More to Get Their Roster to 53 Players|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-53-man-roster-2023-season|author1=Lange, Randy|author2=Greenberg, Ethan|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=August 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Jets Add 10 Players from Their Preseason Roster to the Practice Squad|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-practice-squad-2023-season|author=Lange, Randy|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=August 30, 2023}}</ref> On October 31, Smart was signed to the Jets' active roster.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alper |first1=Josh |title=Jets sign Tanzel Smart, Dennis Kelly to active roster; place three on injured reserve |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/jets-sign-tanzel-smart-dennis-kelly-to-active-roster-place-three-on-injured-reserve |website=NBC Sports |access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref> He was waived on November 13, and re-signed to the practice squad two days later.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bouda |first=Nate |date=2023-11-13 |title=Jets Waive DT Tanzel Smart, Claim OT Austin Deculus |url=https://nfltraderumors.co/jets-waive-dt-tanzel-smart-claim-ot-austin-deculus/ |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=NFLTradeRumors.co |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Greenberg |first1=Ethan |title=Jets Sign DL Tanzel Smart to Practice Squad, Release DB Craig James |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-dl-tanzel-smart-to-practice-squad-release-db-craig-james |website=newyorkjets.com |access-date=16 November 2023}}</ref> Smart was signed to the active roster on November 18, but released two days later and re-signed back with the practice squad.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Greenberg |first1=Ethan |title=Jets Sign DL Tanzel Smart to Active Roster |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-dl-tanzel-smart-to-active-roster |website=newyorkjets.com |access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref> He signed a reserve/futures contract with the Jets on January 9, 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Greenberg |first1=Ethan |title=Jets Sign FB Nick Bawden, DL Tanzel Smart to Reserve/Future Contracts |url=https://newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-nick-bawden-tanzel-smart-reserve-future-contracts-01-09-2024 |website=newyorkjets.com |access-date=10 January 2024}}</ref>

Smart was released by the Jets on August 27, 2024.<ref>{{cite web|title=Final Cuts {{!}} Jets Move 37 to Get Their Roster to 53 Players|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-53-man-roster-2024-season|author=Greenberg, Ethan|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=August 27, 2024}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
On February 14, 2025, Smart was announced as a defensive quality control assistant on [Brian Schottenheimer](/source/Brian_Schottenheimer)'s new [Dallas Cowboys](/source/Dallas_Cowboys) coaching staff.<ref>{{cite web |last=Livengood |first=Paul |url=https://www.kiiitv.com/article/sports/nfl/dallas-cowboys-coaching-staff-2025/287-26d6c5d9-af78-4704-a4a7-affb02e2970a |title=Dallas Cowboys announce full coaching staff for the 2025 season |work=[KIII-TV](/source/KIII) |date=February 14, 2025 |access-date=February 15, 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://tulanegreenwave.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=1693 Tulane Green Wave bio]
{{Commons category-inline}}

{{Rams2017DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smart, Tanzel}}
Category:1994 births
Category:Living people
Category:American football defensive tackles
Category:Players of American football from Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:Tulane Green Wave football players
Category:Los Angeles Rams players
Category:Buffalo Bills players
Category:Cleveland Browns players
Category:New York Jets players
Category:Dallas Cowboys coaches

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tanzel Smart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanzel_Smart) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanzel_Smart?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.