D'Ante Smith

Position:
Offensive Line
Height:
6-4
Weight:
274
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Augusta, Ga.
High School:
Grovetown
Major:
Economics

A versatile, agile and talented four-year letterman and three-year starter who will be regarded as one of the Pirates’ top offensive lineman in program history … Experienced action in five seasons (2016-2020) after being a granted a medical hardship waiver (officially approved by the American Athletic Conference on May 8, 2019) that determined that a year of eligibility was not used in '16 after playing in just one game prior to an injury … Completed career with a streak of 26-straight starts (30 overall starts in 33 games played) prior to suffering a season-ending injury in 2020 … Played both guard and tackle early during career, but became entrenched at the latter high-profile pass-blocking role because of his rapid development and maturity level … Was mentored by three different position coaches during his collegiate career at ECU (Geep Wade/2016-17, Don Mahoney/2018, Steve Shankweiler/2019-20).

2020: Played in just one game, starting the season opener against UCF at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium before sustaining a season-ending injury against the Knights ... Was a Preseason All- American Athletic Conference (first-team) selection by Phil Steele and a second-team choice per Athlon Sports ... A Senior Bowl and NFL Combine invitee.

2019: Was ECU’s starting left tackle in all 12 contests … A two-time All-American Athletic Conference honoree, earning third-team accolades from Phil Steele.com and honorable mention kudos from league head coaches … Served as a game captain on eight occasions, which included the opener at NC State and the finale vs. Tulsa … Played key role for a unit that posted 500-plus total yards in a game four times – 574 (Gardner-Webb), 638 (Cincinnati), 644 (SMU) and 509 (Connecticut) .. Helped offense rank 22^nd nationally in both passing yards (288.8) and fewest sacks allowed (1.4) per game … An integral part of a line that provided protection for four single-game individual records, which included passing yards (535 by Holton Ahlers), reception yards (283 by C.J. Johnson) and total yards (556 by Ahlers) against Cincinnati and TD passes (6 by Ahlers) at SMU … Also aided ECU’s ground attack, paving way for three 100-yard rushing performances (Darius Pinnix/2, Demetrius Mauney/1) and a season-best 365-yard team output vs. Gardner-Webb in the home opener.

2018: Started all 12 games at left tackle … Selected as game captain on eight occasions … Played pivotal role up front for an offensive unit that eclipsed 400 yards of total offense on eight occasions and 500-plus yards three times – 510 vs. North Carolina, 556 vs. Memphis and 657 vs. Connecticut … Performance vs. Huskies at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium also included season-bests in points (55), rushing yards (415) and first downs (34) … Also helped ECU rack up 496 yards (406 passing) against American Athletic Conference champion UCF, 492 vs. Old Dominion and 450 at Tulane … Credited with paving the way for two individual 100-yard rushing performances and five 300-yard passing efforts … Part of unit that stood 20^th nationally in passing yards per game (284.8).

2017: Experienced action in seven contests (James Madison, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Connecticut, USF, Houston, Memphis) … Made five starts (four at left tackle, one at left guard) … Opened tilts vs. Dukes (LT), Mountaineers (LT), Hokies (LT), Huskies (LG) and Tigers (LT) … Helped play key role for a unit which ranked 12^th nationally in passing offense (317.9 ypg) and 42^nd in total offense (425.6 ypg) … Also part of five individual 300-yard passing games and one 100-yard rushing effort.

2016: Suffered an injury after playing in the season-opener vs. Western Carolina … Spent remainder of the year in rehabilitation mode … Member of former coach Scottie Montgomery’s first ECU signing class, inking with Pirates in February.

High School: Earned all-county, all-area and all-region honors as a junior and senior for coach Rodney Holder at Grovetown High School … Valued as a key anchor for an offensive line in 2014 and 2015 … Helped the Warriors rack up a season-high 424 yards of total offense during a 42-7 victory over Harlem HS as a senior … Was a first-team all-county choice by the Columbia County News-Times … Invited to play in the 2015 Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) Border Bowl III and guided Georgia to a 35-21 win over South Carolina … Rated as the second-best offensive lineman at The Opening Combine in Atlanta in May, 2015 … As a junior, received the GHS Coaches Award and was cited by the Augusta Chronicle as an honors performer … Selected to compete in the 2014 CSRA Junior Bowl and the Georgia Elite Junior Classic, an all-star contest which features 70 of the state’s top 11th graders … Labeled a three-star recruit by ESPN.com, Scout.com and 247Sports.com … Ranked as the No. 8 offensive guard in the state of Georgia, No. 32 in the South and among the Top 100 in the nation … Also lettered in wrestling, competing in the heavyweight division … Reportedly produced a prep bench press of 300 pounds and a squat lift of 530 pounds … Recruited by Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, Illinois and Tulane before committing to the Pirate program on Jan. 23, 2016 … Also received interest from Georgia and South Carolina.

Personal: Full name is D’Ante Bryce Smith … Son of Samantha Smith … Earned a bachelor's degree in economics from ECU on Dec. 4, 2020.