Michigan State University Athletics
Smith Voted to Walter Camp All-America Team
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
November 26, 1998
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State junior defensive end Robaire Smith has been named to the Walter Camp All-America Team, which was announced Wednesday night. The Walter Camp All-America Team - the nation's oldest all-star lineup - is selected by Division I-A head coaches and sports information directors.
Smith led the defensive line and ranked fourth on the team in tackles with 52 (23 solos, 29 assists) until suffering a broken leg in the first quarter against top-ranked Ohio State Nov. 7. The 6-foot-5, 268-pounder from Flint, Mich., led the Spartans in tackles for losses with eight (22 yards) through the first eight games, including two-and-a-half sacks (11 yards). He was routinely double- and triple-teamed with bookend Dimitrius Underwood sidelined for the entire season with a high ankle sprain.
"This is a nice surprise," Smith said. "I'm happy the head coaches and sports information directors didn't think less of me because my production was down this year.
"I was frustrated early in the season because I saw a lot of double- and triple-teams. I adjusted to the blocking schemes and did what I could do to free up the linebackers and safeties to make plays. By midseason, teams realized that we had other playmakers on defense and things started to loosen up for me. My production really improved during the middle of the season.
"It's a tremendous honor to be voted to the nation's oldest All-America team. I consider this to be a team award for the defense, not an individual award."
He was named Spartan Defensive Player of the Week after recording nine tackles (5 solos, 4 assists) against Northwestern, including three tackles for losses (9 yards) and one-and-a-half sacks (5). Smith delivered a season-high 10 stops (5-5) vs. Indiana, including two behind the line of scrimmage (7 yards). His 6-yard sack late in the fourth quarter helped send the MSU-Indiana game into overtime tied at 24 - a game the Spartans eventually won 38-31 in double overtime. Smith registered eight tackles (2-6) in the 1998 season opener against Colorado State.
Smith was joined on the Walter Camp All-America Team defensive line by Wisconsin's Tom Burke, Iowa's Jared DeVries and Texas Tech's Montae Reagor.
1998 Walter Camp All-America TeamOffense Pos. Name, School WR Troy Edwards, Louisiana Tech WR Peter Warrick, Florida State OL Aaron Gibson, Wisconsin OL Matt Stinchcomb, Georgia OL Kris Farris, UCLA OL Mike Rosenthal, Notre Dame C Grey Ruegamer, Arizona State TE Rufus French, Mississippi QB Tim Couch, Kentucky RB Ricky Williams, Texas RB Ron Dayne, Wisconsin PK Martin Gramatica, Kansas State
Defense Pos. Name, School DL Tom Burke, Wisconsin DL Jared DeVries, Iowa DL Montae Reagor, Texas Tech DL Robaire Smith, Michigan State LB Jevon Kearse, Florida LB Dat Nguyen, Texas A&M LB Chris Claiborne, Southern Cal DB Champ Bailey, Georgia DB Dre' Bly, North Carolina DB Antoine Winfield, Ohio State DB Chris McAlister, Arizona P Joe Kristosik, UNLV
