Athen Smith brings veteran size and disruption to Jackson State’s DL
Athen Smith is a 6-foot-2, 260-pound graduate defender for Jackson State who showed reliable production in the 2023 season, finishing with 18 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 2 quarterback hurries, and a fumble recovery across 11 games. He stands out more for steady, physical edge-setting and timely disruption than flashy sack totals, and he even scored on a 32-yard fumble return in 2023. The fit is straightforward: if a team wants an experienced, sturdy line presence who plays with toughness and assignment discipline, Smith is the kind of grown-man football piece that quietly helps wins stack up.
