Aldon Smith

In the next game against the New Orleans Saints, Smith surpassed Reggie White as the fastest player in league history to record his 30th career sack, doing so in 27 games.

Smith was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for November.

The following week against the St. Louis Rams, Smith broke another of White's records by recording 31.5 sacks in his first two seasons.

In that same game, Smith tied Fred Dean's franchise record of 17.5 sacks in one season.

During a Week 15 41–34 road victory against the New England Patriots, Smith recorded a tackle, a pass deflection, and his first NFL interception off of Tom Brady.

Aldon Jacarus Smith (born September 25, 1989) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL).

After a strong October, Smith became the first 49ers player since linebacker Patrick Willis in 2007 to earn the NFL Rookie of the Month award; Smith recorded 13 tackles and 6.5 sacks, including one that forced a safety as he helped the 49ers to a 6–1 record.

During a Week 15 20–3 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football, Smith recorded four tackles and 2.5 sacks.

He also surpassed Charles Haley for the 49ers record for most sacks by a rookie in a single season with 13.0 sacks.

Smith finished his rookie year with 37 total tackles, 14 sacks, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in 16 games.

He was half a sack shy of tying the all-time rookie sack record held by defensive end Jevon Kearse despite not starting a single game in his rookie season.

Smith was named Defensive Rookie of the Year by Pro Football Writers of America, and finished second to Von Miller for the Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.

Smith was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team.

Smith played for the Missouri Tigers football team under head coach Gary Pinkel while attending the University of Missouri from 2008 to 2010.

After being redshirted as a freshman in 2008, Smith started 11 of 13 games at defensive end in 2009.

He finished the season with 60 tackles and 11 sacks.

Smith was named the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and a first-team freshman All-American.

As a sophomore in 2010, he played in nine games, recording 48 tackles and six sacks.

He played college football for the Missouri Tigers, and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.

After the season, Smith announced that he would forgo his final two years of eligibility and enter the 2011 NFL Draft.

Playing as a defensive end at Missouri, Smith was considered a "DE/OLB prospect" by most NFL scouts and was considered a strong edge run defender as 4–3 end or 3–4 linebacker.

Many scouts had compared him to DeMarcus Ware.

Prior to the 2011 NFL Draft, Smith was projected to be selected in the mid-late first round by mock draft analysis.

On the day of the Draft, the San Francisco 49ers drafted him in the first round with the seventh overall pick.

Smith did not start but made his NFL debut in the season-opening 33–17 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, recording a pass deflection.

Three weeks later against the Philadelphia Eagles, Smith recorded five tackles and his first 1.5 sacks on Michael Vick in the narrow 24–23 victory.

Over the next two weeks, Smith would win the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week in victories against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions.

Smith was a first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowl selection with the 49ers in 2012.

He also played for the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys.

Smith was born in Greenwood, Mississippi.

He attended Raytown High School in Raytown, Missouri, where he played for the Raytown Bluejays high school football team.

As a senior, Smith recorded 60 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, while adding seven forced fumbles, one blocked punt, and a safety on defense, while on offense, he caught 34 passes for 570 yards and four touchdowns as a tight end.

Considered only a three-star recruit by the Rivals.com recruiting network, Smith was considered the No. 5 overall prospect (any position) in the state of Missouri as well as the No. 27 strongside defensive end in the nation.

He chose Mizzou over Nebraska, Kansas, and Kansas State, among others.

After being used only as a situational pass rusher throughout his rookie year, Smith became a full-time starter in 2012.

During the season-opening 30–22 road victory over the Green Bay Packers, Smith recorded four tackles and sacked Aaron Rodgers once.

In the next game against the Detroit Lions, Smith recorded six tackles and 1.5 sacks as the 49ers won by a score of 27–19.

Two weeks later, he had two sacks as the 49ers shut out the New York Jets on the road by a score of 34–0.

During a Week 11 32–7 victory over the Chicago Bears, Smith recorded seven tackles, 5.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries.

He earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week due to his spectacular performance.