Tulane Football’s Tanzel Smart Earns Spot in NFL Scouting Combine

NEW ORLEANS – Former Tulane football standout Tanzel Smart is among the 330 participants selected to take part in the 2017 National Football League Scouting Combine, set for Feb. 28-March 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Smart will showcase his skills in front of NFL coaches, general managers and scouts as a part of a record number hailing from the American Athletic Conference. A record 18 players from The American are scheduled to participate. The American had 13 participants in the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine and 14 in the 2014 and 2015 events.

Last month, the Baton Rouge, La., native played well in the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., earning the start at defensive tackle and recording two tackles for the victorious South squad. He saw time on the defensive front in all four quarters and was also in on the field goal block team.

Smart closed out his time at Tulane as a two-time, first-team all-conference selection in The American and a two-time, first-team pick on the All-Louisiana College Football Teams by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. In four seasons wearing the Olive and Blue, he totaled 190 tackles, including 40.5 for loss with three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

The 2017 NFL Draft takes place April 27-29 in Philadelphia.