This Smith Stands Out

Senior middle linebacker Clifton Smith will be featured in more than sports-related magazines this Fall. The two-time first-team All-BIG EAST selection is on the watch lists for many of the national awards and will be profiled as one of the league’s top defensive players in most football preview magazines. In addition, SU football fans can see Smith on the pages of the Playboy Pigskin Preview as one of the magazine’s pre-season All-America selections.

Smith, who travelled to Arizona in May for the magazine’s photo shoot, is the first Orangeman selected for the Playboy pre-season all-star squad since 1997 when wide receiver/punt returner Quinton Spotwood appeared in the Playboy College Football Preview.

The Freeport, NY native is a candidate for the Lombardi Award, given to the nation’s best player who lines up within five yards of the line of scrimmage, and the Nagurski and Bednarik Trophies, which are both awarded to the best defensive player in college football.

Smith will continue to keep the Syracuse name in the spotlight on the national award watch, following consensus All-American Dwight Freeney, who was a finalist for all three awards in 2001.

Syracuse University Athletics

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