D . J . Smith ( American football ) Darryl Devon Smith Jr . ( born February 24 , 1989 ) , better known as D . J . Smith , is an American football linebacker with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Packers out of Appalachian State University in the sixth round ( 186th pick overall ) of the 2011 NFL Draft . High school . Smith attended Independence High School in Charlotte , North Carolina . Where he started for three years out of four and was part of a team that went undefeated and won four straight state titles . During his time at Independence High School he was often rotated between middle and outside linebacker . He was an all - state recognition twice , an all - conference nominee three times , and named team MVP his senior year . Smith also lettered three years in basketball . College . Smith went on to play for the Appalachian State University Mountaineers , where he led the NCAA Division I FCS in active tackles with 525 by the end of his career . He also became the first Appalachian State player since three - time NFL Pro Bowl nominee Dexter Coakley to have more than 500 tackles in his career . He majored in Business Management . 2007 . Smith had an eventful first season with the Mountaineers , even though he did not hold the starting job until the seventh game of the season . Even so , he recorded more tackles than any Appalachian State freshman since Dexter Coakley in 1993 , and had at least 10 tackles in five of his first nine starts . He was named the Southern Conference Defensive Player of the month for November after leading the conference in tackles with 49 , interceptions with two , and passes deflected with five . His first interception was against The Citadel , which he ran back 43 yards for a touchdown . During this game , he broke the record for tackles by a freshman in a game ( also held by Coakley ) . He was named the Southern Conference Player of the week after a game against Chattanooga after recording 14 tackles and 2 pass break - ups . In the National Championship game against the Delaware Fightin ' Blue Hens , he recored 10 more tackles . 2008 . Following his successful freshman year , Smith continued on as the starting linebacker and started all 14 games . His arguably best performance of his sophomore season took place against the Samford Bulldogs , a game in which he had 16 tackles ( 12 solo ) . Following this game , was once named the Southern Conference defensive player of the week . He again received this honor after a contest against the Alabama Crimson Tide . Smith finished the season with 123 tackles , including 53 solo tackles . He finished second in the conference and 12th in the nation and received second team Southern Conference honors . 2009 . Smith ' s success at Appalachian State University continued into his junior year , a year in which he was elected a first - team All - American by the Sports Network , and all - conference by the coaches and media . He started all fourteen games of the season and tallied fourteen tackles in the opener against East Carolina University . He continued on to earn National and Southern Conference Defensive player of the week for his performance against Samford University with 17 tackles , the most by any Mountaineer since his Freshman year . He finished the season with 137 tackles ( 60 solo ) , and with two forced fumbles and recoveries , the most on the team . 2010 . Continuing the streak , Smith started all 13 games in his final season as a Mountaineer and was once again named a First - team All American by the Sports Network and College Football News . He was named as a second team all - American by Phil Steele , and to the third team by the Associated Press . On top of this , he was given first team all Southern - Conference honors by the Coaches and Media . Though he did in fact start every game that season , only six of them were at weak - side linebacker ( The position he had played most of his career ) . He was then moved to middle linebacker due to injuries . Even so , he still posted double - digit tackles in ten out of thirteen games . His first start at linebacker came against Samford , where he intercepted a pass and returned it 26 yards to set up a touchdown . In his final season , he registered a career - high 146 tackles ( 5th nationally ) , with 76 of them being solo . NFL . Predraft . Smith was thought by scouts to be on the shorter side for a linebacker and stated that he " has trouble finding the ball inside at times due to his lack of height . " Scouts stated that his arms were too small and limited his ability to " grab NFL backs on the way through or get off blocks . " . They also stated that he has a habit of overrunning plays . On the positive side , they stated that Smith was a " Thick , compact linebacker " , who often " Scrapes down the line , stays square to get to the ball . " . NFL Scouts stated that he was good at changing directions with limited space and that he was an " Excellent wrap - up tackler in space " Green Bay Packers . Smith was selected by the Packers 186 overall with the second of three sixth round picks in the 2011 NFL Draft . Smith responded to being drafted by stating : " I ' m ecstatic that Green Bay saw my talent and decided to pick me up . ” In 2012 , Smith should see plenty of playing time after fellow linebacker Desmond Bishop was placed on injured reserve .