Undersized defensive lineman Smith plays big role for Tigers

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri junior Brian Smith may be undersized for his position but rarely has he underachieved.

Smith, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound defensive end, was recognized as the Big 12 Conference's defensive player of the week. He had a career-high 11 tackles -- including four tackles for a loss -- along with a forced fumble and one broken up pass in Missouri's 38-31 win Saturday at Oklahoma State.

With two sacks, Smith leads the Tigers in that category with 4.5. He also leads the team in tackles for losses at 9.5 this season.

His 19.5 career sacks leave him three shy of breaking former All-American Justin Smith's record at Missouri.

As a freshman, Smith predicted that he would break Missouri's career sack record.

"You've got to set goals for yourself, and when you do that it's more likely it'll come true," he said.

Coach Gary Pinkel also had a goal for Smith when he arrived at Missouri -- for the player to gain weight. Smith weighed 190 pounds as a freshman.

"I've known what his weight is every single day since I've been here," Pinkel said. "He's a lot bigger than what he was when he got here, believe it or not."

Smith averages five or six meals a day, but he's still almost 40 pounds lighter than his counterpart on the defensive line, Xzavie Jackson.

"He can play at his size," Pinkel said. "It's very unusual, but he can do that because of the type of competitor that he is."

Smith has led the Tigers in sacks in both of the past two seasons.

Despite Smith's play and the team's performance against Oklahoma State, Missouri's defense still ranks 11th against the run in the Big 12 Conference and eighth against the pass. The Tigers also have forced the fewest turnovers in the conference.

Defensive lineman Lorenzo Williams said, "In the game against Oklahoma State, we worked a little bit more toward clicking, but we've still got a long way to go."