Brian Smith Class: Junior Hometown: Olathe, KS High School: St. Thomas Aquinas Height / Weight: 6-3 / 240 Position: Linebacker Birthdate: 01/08/1989

CAREER: Fiery leader of the Irish defense plays with as much emotion as anyone on the roster ... talented linebacker that has played both outside and inside in his first two seasons ... started 12 of 22 games played and recorded 79 tackles including eight for loss ... added 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception ... tallied two touchdowns in Irish career, returning an interception against Boston College's Matt Ryan 25 yards for a score as a freshman and rumbling 35 yards for a score vs. Michigan in 2008 following a fumble recovery ... tabbed as the 14th-best inside linebacker in the country by Phil Steele for 2009.

2008 (SOPHOMORE): Played in 11 games for the Irish (missed Syracuse and USC due to injury) and started nine contests ... tallied 54 tackles, including four tackles for a loss during the year ... added two sacks, two pass break-ups, forced a fumble and recovered two fumbles, returning one 35 yards for a touchdown ... ranked fifth on the team in tackles and tied for first in fumble recoveries ... started for the fourth consecutive time and had four tackles (all solos) and registered a quarterback hurry in opening game victory against the San Diego State ... recorded six tackles (two solos, four assists), had a tackle for loss, broke up a pass and recovered two fumbles vs. Michigan ... the second fumble recovery was returned 35 yards for a touchdown against the Wolverines (second touchdown of career, interception return for a TD vs. Boston College in 2007) ... amassed a team-high and career-best 10 tackles (four solos, six assists) and a forced fumble against Michigan State ... became the first sophomore to register 10 or more tackles in a single game since Maurice Crum, Jr. had 11 against Navy on Oct. 28, 2006 ... recorded six tackles, three solo, one tackle for loss and one sack, as well as a quarterback hurry, in the victory over Stanford ... had a big day in his 10th career start, totaling four tackles (two solo; two assist) and an 11-yard sack in the victory over Washington ... recorded five tackles (three solos, two assists) vs. Pittsburgh ... amassed eight tackles (all solos) as well as a pass break-up against Boston College ... made 12th career start and picked up a pair of tackles against Navy before being injured in the first half ... returned to action in the Hawai'i Bowl and recorded a solo tackle in the victory ... logged 251:29 of playing time with 50 special-teams appearances.

2007 (FRESHMAN): Enjoyed strong start to his Notre Dame career as he appeared in 11 contests (did not play vs. Georgia Tech) and earned increased playing time throughout the season ... started the final three games at outside linebacker ... totaled 25 tackles with 1.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, one interception (returned 25 yards for a touchdown) and forced one fumble ... made an immediate impact for the Irish as a freshman ... gained the first playing time of his career vs. Michigan, recording two tackles ... registered his first interception in an Irish uniform vs. Boston College ... returned the interception 25 yards for a TD ... set his season high in tackles vs. Navy registering five tackles ... started the final three games of the season at outside linebacker vs. Air Force, Duke and Stanford ... logged 143:31 of playing time and made 36 special-teams appearances.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Rated the No. 13 inside linebacker in the country and second-best prospect in Kansas by Rivals.com ... rated the number-17 outside linebacker in the nation by Tom Lemming ... Scout.com rated him the third-best player in Kansas and the 30th-best middle linebacker in the country ... one of 11 Notre Dame signees named to the ESPN 150 list ... rated the number-four inside linebacker by ESPN ... credited with 126 tackles and nine sacks during senior season and earned all-metro honors from the Kansas City Star ... helped lead his high school to the state semifinals for the second-straight season before falling to the eventual state champions ... won first two playoff games in senior year by a combined score of 110-8 ... recorded 100 tackles, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception he returned for a touchdown during junior year ... played for coach Kevin Kopecky at Saint Thomas Aquinas ... born Jan. 8, 1989 ... son of Chris and Billie Smith ... father Chris played fullback at Notre Dame from 1981-84 and is currently on the board of directors of the Notre Dame Monogram Club ... full name is Brian C. Smith ... enrolled in College of Arts and Letters, majoring in anthropology.

Smith's Career Statistics