Alphonso Smith Alphonso Smith , Jr . ( born October 20 , 1985 ) is an American football cornerback who last played for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League ( NFL ) . Smith played college football for Wake Forest University , and received All - American honors . He was selected by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft . He is currently a free agent . Early years . Smith was born in Pahokee , Florida . He played quarterback and defensive back at Pahokee High School , and was runner - up for the state Player of the Year award as a senior after leading the school to a 13 - 1 record and the Class 2B state championship . He earned first - team all - state honors as a senior cornerback , totaling 27 tackles , four interceptions and one sack . On offense , he threw for 2 , 400 yards and 32 touchdowns while also rushing for 640 yards and six scores as a senior . He also started on the school ' s basketball team . College career . Smith attended Wake Forest University , where he played for coach Jim Grobe ' s Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team from 2004 to 2008 . Smith redshirted as a true freshman in 2004 . As a redshirt freshman in 2005 , Smith started all 11 games and finished the season with 60 tackles ( 52 unassisted ) , three interceptions , two sacks , 12 pass breakups and one forced fumble . He received first - team Freshman All - America honors from CollegeFootballNews . com , ESPN . com and Scout . com . In 2006 , the sophomore played 14 games with three starts , registering 48 tackles ( 37 solo ) , three interceptions , four sacks , 11 pass breakups and one forced fumble . As a junior in 2007 , Smith started all 13 games as a junior for the demon Deacons and had 44 tackles ( 36 solo ) , eight interceptions , three sacks , 18 pass breakups and four forced fumbles and returned three of the interceptions for touchdowns . He tied for first in the nation with a school - record eight interceptions and was first - team All - Atlantic Coast Conference ( ACC ) selection and received second - team All - America honors from Walter Camp . In 2008 Smith started all 13 games as a senior for Wake Forest , totaling 37 tackles ( 28 solo ) , seven interceptions , 20 pass breakups and two forced fumbles and tied for first in the nation in both interceptions and pass breakups . He was a first - team All - ACC selection and a consensus first - team All - American . He was also named one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy . He continues to hold the ACC record for career interceptions ( 21 ) , and broke the record previously held by Dre ' Bly of North Carolina in the 2008 Eagle Bank Bowl . Professional career . Denver Broncos . The Broncos selected Smith in the 2nd round ( 37th overall ) in the 2009 NFL Draft . The Broncos traded their first round pick in 2010 in order to select him . This trade , among other poor decisions , led to the firing of coach Josh McDaniels . The pick Denver traded to Seattle was used to select Pro Bowler Earl Thomas . On July 26 , 2009 , Smith signed a four - year , $ 4 . 08 million contract with a $ 2 . 15 million signing bonus . Smith can earn $ 750 , 000 through a one - time playing - time incentive that is guaranteed for injury . In addition , if Smith wins Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2009 , he ' ll receive a $ 100 , 000 performance escalator . He can also earn a $ 50 , 000 workout bonus in 2011 and a $ 130 , 000 workout bonus in 2012 . His base salary will be $ 310 , 000 in 2009 , $ 395 , 000 in 2010 , $ 480 , 000 in 2011 , and $ 565 , 000 in 2012 . Detroit Lions . On September 4 , 2010 , Smith was traded to the Detroit Lions for TE Dan Gronkowski . He had his first career interception on September 26 against the Minnesota Vikings . The following week , he beat Green Bay Packers receiver Greg Jennings on a jump ball for his second career interception . In a home game against the St . Louis Rams on October 10 , Smith returned an interception 42 yards for a touchdown in the Lions 44 - 6 win . Against the Washington Redskins on October 30 , Smith had a big interception late in the game to help the Lions comeback to beat Washington . He led the Lions in interceptions in 2010 . On August 31 , 2012 , the Lions released Smith as one of their final roster cuts . He was resigned on October , 18th due to injuries to Jacob Lacey and Bill Bentley . In Week 7 against the Chicago Bears , Smith was fined $ 15 , 750 for horse - collar tackling Brandon Marshall .