Smith Joins Duke Football Program

DURHAM, N.C. – Duke head football coach Manny Diaz announced Tuesday that defensive back Evan Smith has signed a financial aid agreement to attend the institution and join the Blue Devil gridiron program.

Smith played in 31 games with four starts for Northwestern over the past four years. He helped the Wildcats to a 19-19 overall record and trips to the 2025 GameAbove Sports Bowl and 2023 SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl in the last three seasons. He was also a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.

This fall, the 5-10, 185-pound Smith played in eight games and booked six tackles and one pass breakup. He carded three stops versus Western Illinois and two plus a pass breakup at Nebraska.

In 2024, Smith played in 12 games and made four starts, logging 28 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, one interception and three pass breakups. He registered four or more tackles in six contests and an interception in the season opener against Miami (Ohio). Smith carded a career-high five tackles, while also adding 1.0 tackle for loss and pass breakup against Indiana.

Smith, a Birmingham, Alabama, native, will have one season of eligibility remaining beginning with the 2026 campaign.

As a redshirt freshman in 2023, he played in all 13 games. He totaled eight tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss. He was credited with two tackles each against Howard and Utah in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl. He did not play in the 2022 campaign as a true freshman.

During his Wildcat career, he totaled 42 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one interception and four pass breakups.

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Smith Joins Duke Football Program

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