Smith Named to AFCA All-America Team
12/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 4, 2008
Wake Forest senior cornerback Alphonso Smith on Thursday was named to the American Football Coaches Association All-America team.
Smith joins a select group of Wake Forest players to earn AFCA All-America honors. He is just the seventh Deacon ever honored by the organization. Other Wake Forest players named to the AFCA All-America team include running back Brian Piccolo (1964), defensive back Bill Armstrong (1975, 1976), offensive lineman Ben Coleman (1992), defensive end Calvin Pace (2002) and center Steve Justice (2007).
The AFCA has picked an All-America team each year since 1945. The Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches select the team members.
The only other Atlantic Coast Conference player selected was defensive lineman Michael Johnson of Georgia Tech.
Smith, a 5-9, 190-pound senior from Pahokee, Fla. (Pahokee), led Wake Forest with six interceptions on the season and tied the ACC record with 20 for his career. He finished the year with 36 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and a blocked punt. Smith currently leads the nation with 19 passes defended including 13 pass breakups and six interceptions. He set the school record with 60 career passes defended.
Smith turned in one of the finest performances of his career in a 33-30 overtime win over Duke on Nov. 1. Smith blocked a punt for a safety, and recorded two interceptions including one in overtime that sealed Wake Forest's win.
