2021 • JUNIOR SEASON
Awards: Postseason: Named third-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and honorable mention by the media. Midseason: Named a Butkus Award semifinalist. Weekly: Selected Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week following the Auburn game (9/18). Preseason: Named to the Butkus Award Watch List.
Season: Made 12 starts.
at Wisconsin (9/4): Tied career-high with eight tackles, including six solo...Added a tackle for loss. Ball State (9/11): Compiled a career-high seven tackles. Auburn (9/18): Recorded a career-high 10 tackles with a tackle-for-loss and a pass breakup. Villanova (9/25): Had two tackles.Indiana (10/2): Recorded a solo sack...Made five tackles, including two solo...Added a pass breakup...Named Coaching Staff's Defensive Player of the Week. at Iowa (10/9): Tallied five tackles. Illinois (10/23): Tallied seven tackles with a sack and a forced fumble. at Ohio State (10/30): Led the Nittany Lions with eight tackles. at Maryland (11/6): Recorded a team-high nine tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups. Michigan (11/13): Tallied a career-high tying 10 tackles and a pass breakup. Rutgers (11/20): Recorded five tackles and assisted on a tackle for loss. at Michigan State (11/27): Tallied five tackles.
2020 • SOPHOMORE SEASON
Season: Started all nine games...One of 14 players to make their first career start...Named the Coaching Staff's Defensive Player of the Week three times (Ohio State - 10/31; Nebraska -11/14; Illinois - 12/19)...Made 37 tackles (15 solo) to go along with eight tackles for loss (led team), two sacks, a fumble recovery, and an interception...Also tallied a pass breakup and a QB hurry.
Ohio State (10/31): Collected five tackles, including three solo...Notched 1.5 tackles for loss, including his first career sack. Maryland (11/7): Tallied five tackles and a solo sack. at Nebraska (11/14): Made six tackles, including a half-tackle for loss...Recorded first career interception in the fourth quarter. Iowa (11/21): Collected four tackles, including two solo stops. at Michigan (11/28): Recorded five tackles...Collected one tackle for loss for three yards. at Rutgers (12/5): Made two tackles, including a tackle for loss...Added a pass breakup. Michigan State (12/12): Assisted on two tackles. Illinois (12/19): Set career highs in tackles (8) and tackles for loss (3)...Added first career fumble recovery in the third quarter off an Antonio Shelton strip-sack.
2019 • TRUE FRESHMAN SEASON
Season: Appeared in 13 games...One of 29 players to make their collegiate debut...One of 19 true freshmen to play.
Idaho (8/31): Recorded three solo stops, including a tackle for loss. Buffalo (9/7): Posted three tackles. at Maryland (9/27): Collected two tackles. Purdue (10/5): Made four stops, including two solo tackles. at Michigan State (10/26): Had a QB hurry. Indiana (11/16): Collected one tackle. at Ohio State (11/23): Recorded a solo tackle for loss.
HIGH SCHOOL
Three-time letterman for head coach Will Patrick at Louisa County High School...Was a two-time team captain...Helped lead the Lions to a 25-2 record in his final two seasons, including an appearance in the Virginia Class 4A State Championship Game in 2017...Selected to the Under Armour All-America Game...Participated in Nike’s The Opening...Claimed All-USA first-team honors from USA Today as a senior...Named MaxPreps All-America first team as a senior...Garnered the 2018 Gatorade Player of the Year honor in Virginia...Joins former Virginia, Rams and Eagles standout Chris Long as the only central Virginia players to be named Gatorade Player of the Year...Named as a 2018 Butkus Award High School Finalist for best high school linebacker...Chosen as a semifinalist for the Maxwell Football Club High School National Defensive Player of the Year...Picked as the All-USA Virginia Defensive Player of the Year by USA Today as a senior...Selected to the All-USA Virginia Football first team by USA Today in 2018...Named to The 2018 American Family Insurance All-USA Preseason Football Defensive Team as selected by USA Today...Named Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 4 Defensive Player of the Year as a senior...Collected VHSL Class 4 All-State first-team honors as a junior and senior...Named the Region 4B Defensive Player of the Year as a senior...Selected all-region three times, including first-team honors as a junior and senior...Earned all-conference honors in 2016, 2017 and 2018...Named All-Central Virginia three times...Was a two-time team MVP as a junior and senior...Posted 135 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, six sacks and nine forced fumbles as a senior...Registered 165 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, six blocked kicks (4 FG, 2 punt) and five forced fumbles as a junior...Tallied 75 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, including 10 sacks as a sophomore...Rated a five-star prospect by 247Sports and a four-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals...Rated as the No. 12 overall recruit, No. 1 inside linebacker and No. 1 prospect in Virginia by 247Sports...Ranked as the No. 22 overall prospect, No. 2 outside linebacker, No. 2 player in the region and No. 1 recruit in Virginia by ESPN...Ranked No. 39 overall prospect, No. 3 outside linebacker and No. 1 recruit in Virginia by Rivals...Played basketball for two seasons...Helped the Lions to a regional runner-up finish...Was a member of National Honor Society...Was an honor roll student.
PERSONAL
Full name is Brandon Nathaniel Smith...Son of Cynthia and Maurice Smith...Has one brother, Jordan...Volunteered at an elementary school mentor and with youth sports programs...Hobbies include working out, playing PS4 and hanging out with friends and family...Planning to major in criminology...Would like to become an FBI agent...Born April 12, 2001 in Henrico, Virginia.