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Football

#MizzouMade: Jacquies Smith Shines After Long Road to NFL

COLUMBIA, Mo. – 'Mizzou Made' is a phrase that has come to define a lifestyle for everyone who has come through Gary Pinkel's program at Mizzou. While there are plenty of fine examples of young men who have come to epitomize this culture, NFL sacks leader Jacquies Smith currently may be the finest example of what it means to be Mizzou Made.

COLUMBIA, Mo. – 'Mizzou Made' is a phrase that has come to define a lifestyle for everyone who has come through Gary Pinkel's program at Mizzou. While there are plenty of fine examples of young men who have come to epitomize this culture, NFL sacks leader Jacquies Smith currently may be the finest example of what it means to be Mizzou Made.

After signing as an undrafted free agent with the Dolphins following his senior season at Mizzou, Smith bounced around to three NFL practice teams while even singing with the Canadian Football League in 2012. But through the principles instilled in him through Mizzou Football, he continued to grind and work hard. That work earned him a spot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in September of 2014 after being claimed off waivers. Despite missing the bulk of training camp, Smith excelled in 2014, earning eight starts and tallying 6.5 sacks and a forced fumble in his eight starts.

Through two weeks of NFL action in 2015, Smith is ahead of names like J.J. Watt, Justin Houston, Aaron Donald and Julius Peppers with an NFL-high 4.0 sacks. He was part of a Buccaneers defense that limited Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints to just 19 points in a 26-19 win yesterday while tallying three sacks and forcing a pair of fumbles as the Mizzou Made product lived in the backfield. Dating back to last season, Smith has 10.5 sacks over this last 11 games.

Below is some internet reaction of Smith's performance yesterday.

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