Malik Smith Final Bio 
Malik Smith Career Stats
- 2016 Second-Team All-Mountain West
- Two-time Hon. Mention All-Mountain West (2014-15)
- MW Defensive Player of the Week
- Nov. 30, 2015 for game vs. Nevada
Skilled athlete, who plays well in Rocky Long's 3-3-5 defense ... Improved his play as a true freshman in 2013, working himself into a backup role by the end of the season, before starting the final 38 games from 2014-to-2016 earning honorable-mention all-MW accolades in both 2014 and 2015, and second-team honors in 2016 ... Led SDSU in tackles six times over his career, including once in 2016.
SENIOR SEASON (2016)
Was a second-team all-MW selection ... Was named a preseason Mountain West second-team pick by Lindy's Sports, and a third-team selection by Phil Steele's 2016 College Football Preview and Athlon Sports ... Also was chosen as the "23rd-Best Draft-Eligible Strong Safety" by Phil Steele and a "SDSU Player to Watch" by Lindy's ... Had 58 tackles (33 solo) on the season in 14 starts, including three tackles for loss, a 28-yard interception for a touchdown, seven pass breakups and a quarterback hurry ... Started for the 28th straight game in the opener against New Hampshire, making on solo tackle, a 5-yard tackle for loss ... Had four stops (three solo) in a start against California ... Had a team-high 10 tackles (six solo) at Northern Illinois and added a pass breakup ... It was the sixth time he has led the team in tackles over his career and his fourth game with double-digit stops ... Had five tackles and a season-high two pass breakups at South Alabama in another start ... Had two tackles in a start against UNLV ... Registered two tackles (one solo) with a pass breakup at Fresno State in another start ... Had four solo tackles and a PBU in a start against San Jose State ... Finished with three tackles and an interception for a touchdown at Utah State ... The interception touchdown was he first of his career, his first interception of the season and ninth of his career ... Had three tackles (two solo) and a pass breakup in a start against Hawai'i ... Made two solo stops, including a 1-yard tackle for loss at Nevada ... Came up with eight tackles in a start at Wyoming ... Made seven tackles (five solo) in a start vs. Colorado State ... Registered three tackles (two solo), a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry in a start at Wyoming in the MW Championship game ... Came up with five tackles (four solo), including a 5-yard tackle for loss vs. Houston in the Las Vegas Bowl.
JUNIOR SEASON (2015)
Was named a honorable-mention all-Mountain West selection by the league's coaches and media for the second straight year ... Also was a third-team pick by Phil Steele Magazine ... Was named a third-team preseason all-Mountain West selection by Phil Steele and a fourth-team honoree by Athlon Sports ... Was deemed a "SDSU Player to Watch" by Lindy's Sports ... Started the team's 14 games, making 77 tackles (T-3rd on the team) with five tackles for loss, a team-high nine pass breakups, five interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry ... Had an interception in three straight games from Oct. 23-Nov. 14, which was tied for the third-longest streak in FBS all season, and had all five of his picks over his final seven games ... Was a part of a forced turnover in six of the final seven games (five interceptions and a fumble recovery) ... Started the opener vs. San Diego for the 14th straight game at one of the two Warrior (safety) spots ... Had three tackles (one solo), including 0.5 TFL, and quarterback hurry ... Started again at California and had eight tackles (two solo), the second most on the team and fourth most in the game ... Set a career high with 11 tackles (five solo) against South Alabama ... Also added a 2-yard tackle for loss ... Finished with seven stops and a PBU at Penn State ... Came up with two solo tackles and another pass breakup vs. Fresno State ... Recorded three tackles with a pass breakup at Hawai`i ... Had seven tackles (five solo), a 4-yard tackle for loss and his first career forced fumble at San Jose State ... Came up with three tackles (two solo), an interception and a pass breakup vs. Utah State ... Had four tackles (two solo) and an interception for the second straight game ... Had an interception for a third straight game against Wyoming to go along with three tackles (all solo) and a 1-yard tackle for loss ... The third consecutive game with an interception was tied for longest active-streak in FBS (at the time) and tied for the third longest all season in FBS play ... Came up with five tackles and a fumble recovery at UNLV ... Was named the MW Defensive Player of the Week for his play vs. Nevada ... Registered a game-high-tying eight tackles, including seven solo stops, against Nevada ... Also added an interception for the fourth time in five games and three pass breakups ... Had a solid effort in the Mountain West Championship game vs. Air Force, making eight tackles (six solo), with 0.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup ... The PBU came on AFA's Hail Mary attempt to try and take the lead with no time left in the fourth quarter ... Had a quality outing against Cincinnati in the Hawai`i Bowl, making five tackles (four solo) with a 9-yard tackle for loss, an interception and a pass breakup ... The interception was his fifth the season and eighth of his career ... It was his fifth pick over his final seven games and sixth time in seven games that he was a part of a turnover (five interceptions and a fumble recovery) ... The tackle for loss came on a failed fake field goal attempt by the Bearcats early in the third quarter.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2014)
Was named a honorable-mention all-Mountain West selection by the league's coaches and media ... Started all 13 of the team's games ... Had 55 tackles (29 solo), seven pass breakups, 3.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry ... Made his first career start in the opener vs. Northern Arizona, logging a team-high seven tackles (five solo), a game-high three pass breakups and adding one tackle for loss ... The three PBUs were the most in the nation in the first week of FBS play ... Had three tackles in another start at No. 21/23 North Carolina ... Had another solid outing in a start at Oregon State, making five tackles with 0.5 TFL, his first career interception and a pass breakup ... Made one solo stop against UNLV in his fourth career start ... Came up with four tackles (two solo) at Fresno State ... Recorded five tackles and a career-high 1.5 tackles for loss at New Mexico ... Had a solid all-around game against Hawai`i, making one tackle, and recording an interception and recovering a fumble in back-to-back plays in the fourth quarter to seal the win for SDSU ... The fumble recovery was the first of his career ... Had four stops (two solos), two PBUs and 0.5 TFL in an eighth straight start at Nevada ... Came up with six tackles, including four stops, and his first quarterback hurry in another start against Idaho ... Tied a then career high with 10 tackles at Boise State, including four solo stops ... The 10 tackles were also tied for the most in the game ... Made one stop and added a pass breakup in an 11th straight start against Air Force ... Recorded six tackles (four solo) with an interception in a start vs. San Jose State ... Made two stops (one solo) in another start at Warrior vs. Navy in the Poinsettia Bowl.
FRESHMAN (TRUE) SEASON (2013)
Played in 12 games off the bench as a true freshman, registering 21 tackles (14 solos) ... Did not dress or play in the opener vs. Eastern Illinois ... Saw his first collegiate playing time against No. 3/2 Ohio State, but did not make the stat sheet ... Also saw time off the bench against Oregon State without recording a stat ... Had his first career tackle off the bench at New Mexico State ... Had a huge breakout game off the bench vs. Nevada, making a career-high 10 tackles (eight solo) ... The 10 tackles tied Derek Largent for the most in the game for either team ... Had four stops off the bench at Air Force ... Had an assisted tackle in a reserve role vs. No. 15/18 Fresno State ... Came up with two solo stops vs. New Mexico ... Played at San Jose State off the pine without making the stat sheet ... Made two tackles in a reserve role at Hawai'i ... Played off the bench against Boise State without making a stat ... Came off the bench in the regular season finale at UNLV, but did not make a stat ... Came up with one tackle vs. Buffalo in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
HIGH SCHOOL
A safety who played his prep ball at Dominguez High School with Kalan Montgomery ... Helped the Dons to a 7-4 record in 2011, including a 4-1 mark in league play ... A two-star recruit by both Rivals.com and Scout.com ... Rated as the 196th-best safety in the country among all incoming recruits by Scout.
PERSONAL
Malik Tyrese Benjaunzay Smith was born Aug. 28, 1995, in Compton, Calif. ... Son of Larry Washington and Porsha Barnes, and raised by Latanya Brooks ... Picked SDSU after receiving interest in the recruiting process from Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Nevada, Utah and Washington State ... Is majoring in criminal justice.
SINGLE-GAME BESTS
Tackles: 11 vs. South Alabama (9/19/15)
Tackles For Loss: 1.5 at New Mexico (10/10/14)
Interceptions: 1, nine times
Pass Breakups: 3 vs. Nevada (11/28/15), vs. Northern Arizona (8/30/14)
Forced Fumbles: 1 at San Jose State (10/17/15)
Fumble Recoveries: 1 at UNLV (11/21/15), vs. Hawai`i (10/18/14)
Defensive Touchdowns: 1 at Utah State (10/28/16)