#58 Brian Smith 2009-10 Football Roster

CAREER: An emotional player for Irish who has started more games than any other player on Irish roster … has played in 34 games at Notre Dame and started 24 contests … has started all but two of last 26 games he has played … started his career as outside linebacker in 3-4 defense and moved to inside linebacker as sophomore and junior … moved back to outside linebacker during 2010 spring drills … enters final year as active leader in career tackles on Irish roster with 150 … has totaled 13.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries, forced two fumbles and broken up two passes … tallied two touchdowns in his career, returning interception against Boston College[apos]s Matt Ryan 25 yards for score as freshman and rumbled 35 yards for touchdown against Michigan in 2008 following fumble recovery.

2009 (JUNIOR): One of three defensive players to start all 12 games for Irish (Kyle McCarthy and Harrison Smith were others) … represented linebackers on team[apos]s leadership committee … ranked second on team with career-best 71 tackles including career-high five and a half tackles for loss and added one and a half sacks … tied for second with two interceptions and recovered one fumble … tallied three tackles, including two tackles for loss and one sack in season opener against Nevada … notched seven tackles at Michigan … recorded five tackles with one tackle for loss against Michigan State … tied for team-high honors with eight tackles against USC … added one tackle for loss, one-half sack and career-high two quarterback hurries against Trojans … recorded an interception against Boston College, while adding six tackles and fumble recovery … matched career high with team-best 10 tackles against Navy … registered seven tackles with one-half tackle for loss at Pittsburgh … totaled five tackles and an interception against Connecticut … notched eight tackles in season finale at Stanford … earned 312:51 of playing time and made 66 special-teams appearances.

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[apos]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[apos]s Career Statistics