'Big dawg' Mazi Smith has 'never been afraid of contact,' discusses what he brings to Dallas Cowboys
Michigan Wolverines football defensive tackle Mazi Smith was taken by the Dallas Cowboys No. 26 overall in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. A 6-foot-3, 323-pound run-stuffing force in the middle of the defensive line, Smith discussed what he brings to Dallas.
“Dawg,” Smith said. “Big dawg. Big fella. Big physical guy. Never been afraid of contact… A guy that’s going to get into somebody’s face. A guy who ain’t going to make it easy.”
The Cowboys ranked fourth in the NFL with 54 sacks last season but slotted 22nd in run defense. Two-time first-team All-Pro outside linebacker Micah Parsons, who has 26.5 sacks over two seasons in Dallas, was fired up about the pick. The entire organization believes Smith can help boost the run defense.
“Micah — he’s a dawg” Smith said. “I’m excited I have someone like that happy to have me on the way there and I’m happy to be there. Happy to help them and hopefully he helps me too.”
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When the former Michigan standout was asked what makes him such a good run-stopper, he stated the obvious — he’s big, strong and powerful. Smith benched 34 reps of 225 pounds, leading all defensive linemen at the NFL Combine, and was named The Athletic‘s No. 1 freak in college football ahead of last season.
“Man, I’m like 325 pounds,” Smith said. “And then I have real power in my hands. I’ve been strong my whole life. My mom says I came out of the womb looking like I did push-ups. I figured out how to use [my strength] on the field, figured out the right technique, figured out the right stance to get into and started striking blocks and making sure they went back.”
Stopping the run is job No. 1 for the East Kentwood (Mich.) High product, but he’ll also be asked to rush the passer more than he did at Michigan. He only accumulated a half-sack with the Wolverines, but did add 48 tackles and 2.5 stops for loss in 2022.
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“They told me that first and foremost my job was to come in and be that elite run defender they need in the middle of that defense,” Smith said of his conversation with the Cowboys. “And then after that, my second job is to show everybody that I can work at the edge and that I can affect the quarterback. That’s something that I need to work on and hone in on.”
Smith also discussed his love for the game of football, which was evident during his time at Michigan.
“I love the physicality man,” Smith said. “Football has been taking care of me my whole life. I’ve been playing since I was seven, so I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t put that helmet on to hit somebody. That’s just my nature [and] in my blood.
“It’s just something that I feel I was designed to do and forever thankful to God that I got this opportunity.”
