2018 SEASON: Appeared in all 16 games with a career-high eight starts and posted a career-best 45 tackles (26 solo) and a career-high and team-leading 8½ sacks…Added a team-high 25 QB hits, two passes defensed and a forced fumble…According to Sportradar, ranked No. 3 among NFL linebackers in QB hits and was tied for No. 6 in total pressures (sacks/hurries/knockdowns) with 35…Posted 7½ sacks on third down, tied for No. 3 in the NFL behind only Rams DT Aaron Donald (8½) and Seahawks DT Frank Clark (eight)…It was the most sacks on third down by a Raven since LB Elvis Dumervil (eight) in 2014…Also started in the Ravens’ playoff game and posted a solo tackle…Helped Baltimore rank No. 1 in overall defense (292.9 ypg) and No. 2 in scoring defense (17.9 ppg)…Vs. Buffalo (Sept. 9): Registered five tackles (four solo), tying for the team lead, with a sack and two tackles for a loss as the defense limited the Bills to just 153 yards of total offense. Brought down QB Josh Allen for a 4-yard loss on a third down in the third quarter to force a three-and-out…Vs. Denver (Sept. 23): Posted two tackles (one solo), a sack and a team-high four QB hits. Sacked QB Case Keenum on a third down late in the first quarter to force a Denver punt…At Cleveland (Oct. 7): Recorded a career-high six tackles (two solo) and a half-sack…At Tennessee (Oct. 14): Produced five tackles (four solo), a career-best three sacks and a forced fumble for a defense that posted franchise records for sacks (11) and passing yards allowed (51) in the 21-0 victory. Became the seventh Raven to record three-plus sacks in a game and earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance. All three of his sacks came on third down, including a strip-sack of QB Marcus Mariota in the second quarter that Mariota recovered…At Atlanta (Dec. 2): Posted a sack, bringing down QB Matt Ryan for an 11-yard loss on third down in the second quarter, as the Ravens allowed just 131 yards, the fewest by an Atlanta team since 1999…At L.A. Chargers (Dec. 22): Registered five tackles (four solo), a team-best four QB hits and 1½ sacks as the defense limited the Chargers to a season-low 198 total yards. Brought down QB Philip Rivers for an 11-yard loss on a third down in the fourth quarter to force a Los Angeles punt.
2017: Played in 14 games with four starts and posted 24 tackles (15 solo), 3½ sacks, a forced fumble and a pass defensed...Ranked No. 3 on the team with 16 QB hits…Was inactive for two contests due to injury (Week 2, Week 14)…At Cincinnati (Sept. 10): Registered three tackles (two solo) and a sack, bringing down QB Andy Dalton for a 9-yard loss on third down on the opening drive in the 20-0 win…At Oakland (Oct. 8): Recorded a season-high four tackles (one solo)…At Cleveland (Dec. 17): Posted a strip-sack of QB DeShone Kizer in the third quarter that was recovered by DT Brandon Williams and returned for a 1-yard TD…Vs. Indianapolis (Dec. 23): Registered a sack for the second straight game, bringing down QB Jacoby Brissett for a 4-yard loss in the fourth quarter on third-and-6 as he matched his season high with four tackles (three solo).
2016: Appeared in 13 games with four starts, finishing with 20 tackles (10 solo), a sack, a pass defensed and a forced fumble for a unit that ranked No. 5 in the NFL in rushing defense (89.4 ypg)…Was inactive for three contests…At Jacksonville (Sept. 25): Registered three tackles (all solo), including two tackles for a loss as the Ravens limited the Jaguars to just 216 yards of total offense…At N.Y. Giants (Oct. 16): Made his first NFL start, appearing on 53 snaps and posting two tackles (one solo) as the defense held the Giants to 38 rushing yards and didn’t allow a rushing first down for just the fifth time in franchise history…Vs. Cleveland (Nov. 10): Recorded three tackles (two solo) and a sack/forced fumble when he brought down QB Josh McCown for an 8-yard loss on third down in the third quarter as the Browns were forced to punt.
2015: Played in 15 games as a rookie and recorded 30 tackles (20 solo), 5½ sacks and a pass defensed for a defense that ranked No. 8 in the NFL (337.4 ypg)…Was the league’s only rookie to register two multiple-sack games and became just the third rookie in team history (LBs Peter Boulware and Terrell Suggs) to accomplish the feat…Was inactive for the season opener…At Oakland (Sept. 20): Made his NFL debut, appearing on 33 snaps on defense and recording a solo tackle…At Pittsburgh (Oct. 1): Posted four tackles (all solo) and two sacks, the first sacks of his career, as he became just the fifth rookie in team history to register two-plus sacks in a game. His first career sack came in the third quarter when he brought down QB Michael Vick for a 6-yard loss. Sacked Vick again on the next play, this time for a 7-yard loss on third down to force a Pittsburgh punt…Vs. Jacksonville (Nov. 15): Blocked K Jason Myers’ 26-yard FG attempt in the third quarter…Vs. Kansas City (Dec. 20): Matched his season highs with four tackles (three solo) and two sacks for a defense that allowed 277 total yards. Brought down QB Alex Smith for a 3-yard loss in the first quarter and a 1-yard loss in the fourth quarter…Vs. Pittsburgh (Dec. 27): Registered three tackles (two solo) and a sack. Sacked QB Ben Roethlisberger for a 6-yard loss on a third down in the third quarter to force a Pittsburgh punt. Also brought down RB DeAngelo Williams for a 4-yard loss on a second-quarter run. Posted the first kickoff return of his career, fielding K Chris Boswell’s kick to start the second half and returning it 15 yards to the Baltimore 32…2015 Draft: Was selected by Baltimore with the first pick in the fourth round (No. 122 overall), the first of three selections for the Ravens in the fourth round.
COLLEGE: Started all 24 games in his two seasons at Kentucky, recording 120 tackles (50 solo), 14 tackles for a loss, 10½ sacks, three passes defensed and two fumble recoveries…Began his collegiate career at East Mississippi Community College (Scooba, Miss.), where he totaled 66 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss, 11½ sacks, four forced fumbles, three passes defensed and an INT…Earned his degree in community and leadership development…Senior season (2014): Started all 12 games at DE and finished No. 4 on the team with 61 tackles (26 solo), including 7½ tackles for a loss and 4½ sacks…Ranked third on the team in tackles for a loss and second in sacks…Posted a sack in three consecutive games and in four of the final seven contests…Junior season (2013): Started all 12 games at DE and was tied for third on the team with 59 tackles (24 solo), including 6½ tackles for a loss and six sacks with one pass defensed and a fumble recovery…Recorded a career-high three sacks vs. Miami of Ohio (Sept. 7)…Posted a career-high nine tackles at Georgia (Nov. 23)…Sophomore season (2012): Posted 47 tackles (29 solo), 11 tackles for a loss and 6½ sacks at East Mississippi Community College…Earned second-team All-America honors from the National Junior College Athletic Association…Also was named to the all-region and all-state teams…Added a team-high four forced fumbles, two passes defensed and an interception…Registered eight tackles (six solo), a sack and a career-best two forced fumbles vs. Pearl River CC (Sept. 1)…Freshman season (2011): Registered 19 tackles, seven tackles for a loss and five sacks as he helped EMCC to a 12-0 mark and the school’s first NJCAA national title…Posted three tackles (two solo), a sack and a pass defensed in the NJCAA championship game vs. Arizona Western (Dec. 3).
PERSONAL: Given name Za’Darius Smith...First name is pronounced zuh-DARE-ee-us…Born in Montgomery, Ala. …Older brother, Bob Meeks, played center at Auburn (1988-91) and for the Denver Broncos (1992-94)…Cousin, Davern Williams, played at Troy (1999-2003) and for the N.Y. Giants (2004)…Niece, Kristi Mokube, played basketball at Florida State and George Mason…High school: Didn’t play football until his senior season at Greenville (Ala.) High School…Starred in basketball, lettering all four seasons…Community involvement: Hosts a Fourth of July event each year in his hometown that includes fireworks, air jumps and waterslides…Residence: Greenville, Ala.
