FRISCO, TX – The Dallas Cowboys selected Mazi Smith, the defensive tackle out of the University of Michigan for the 26th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Smith is 6’3 337 lbs. He played at the University of Michigan for three years. In 2022 he recorded 49 total tackles, 23 solo tackles, 26 assist tackles, and one sack. At Michigan he was a three-year letterman, two-time Academic All-Big Ten Conference (2021-2022). He played 21 games in his career there with 14 starts where he recorded 40 tackles in his career.
He was known as one of the best run-stoppers in college football last season and after today he will be joining Dan Quinn and the dynamic defense he has created here in Dallas.
We asked Smith what he brings to the defense moments after he was drafted, “A Dog. Big Dog. Big fella, Physical guy. Never been afraid of contact. Never been afraid to hit nobody.”
We also asked Smith what makes him so strong against the run, “I’m 325 lbs. First off. You know. Then I got real power in my hands. I’ve been strong my whole life. My mom said I came out the womb looking like I did push ups in there.”
Smith said the first person he spoke with was Jerry Jones. He said Jones expressed to him to come help Dallas stop the run game. Jones said Smith’s first job is to come in there and be the elite run defender that Dallas desperately needs.
It’s no secret Dallas had trouble stopping the run game last season and Smith will help that immensely this season.
“I think we had options. We had 2-3 guys that were rated the same. So we had a debate on which was the best guy for us and mainly between big men and Smith obviously brings an element to the run game and stopping the run that we don’t have.” Stephen Jones expressed this in the press conference following the pick.
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