By Joshua Huff, sports editor
CLARKSVILLE — Former Leeds High School Class 4A ASWA Lineman of the Year Josephus Smith was honored on Monday night during Austin Peay’s Night of Champions.
The redshirt junior was named the program’s Defensive Lineman of the Year at the annual awards ceremony following a 2019 season in which the lineman anchored a Governors’ defense that was one of the best in the FCS.
🏆NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS AWARD🏆
🔴Lineman Defensive Player of the Year⚒
🎤Presented by Mike Keith, the voice of the @Titans pic.twitter.com/c3OSjaO4EC
— Austin Peay Football (@GovsFB) February 27, 2020
Smith, whose football journey has taken him from Leeds High School, to Miles College, and on to Austin Peay, in Clarksville, Tennessee, concluded this past season as one of the best run-stoppers in the country. He recorded a program-record 19.5 tackles for loss, with 17 of those tackles coming against OVC opponents. In addition, he recorded 7.5 sacks on the season, which led the Governors.
For his effort, Smith was named as an All-OVC defensive lineman selection.
The 5-foot-9, 285-pound Smith finished his high school career at Leeds as a first-team All-State, Super All-State and Class 4A ASWA Lineman of the Year. He finished with a total of 147 tackles, 53.5 tackles for loss, 27 sacks, 14 forced fumbles and four blocked field goals.
Austin Peay concluded this past season 11-4 and fell to Montana State, 24-10, in the NCAA Division I Football Championship’s national quarterfinals.