The Jacksonville Jaguars signed second-year defensive end Bryan Smith off the St. Louis Rams practice squad today and added him to their roster. The club waived first-year cornerback Kennard Cox and rookie defensive end Jeremy Navarre. The roster stands at 52 players.
Smith, 6-2, 250, was selected in the third round of the 2008 draft by Philadelphia, the 80th pick overall. Smith spent the entire season on the Eagles roster but was inactive for all 16 games. He was waived by the Eagles following the 2009 preseason and signed to the Rams practice squad.
Smith, 25, was a two-time All-America selection and Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year at McNeese State. He finished his career with a school-record 31.0 sacks, 187 tackles and 56.5 tackles for loss.
As a senior in 2008, he compiled 10.5 sacks, 22.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles and became only the fourth player in conference history to earn first-team All-FCS All-America and conference player of the year honors. He registered 13.5 sacks as a junior and led the conference with 23 tackles for loss. A native of Newton, Texas, he attended Newton High School where he lettered in football, basketball and track.
Cox was signed by the Jaguars on December 8, 2008 and played in five games with the club including two this season. Navarre was signed as a rookie free agent in 2009 and started the season on the club's practice squad before he was activated to the 53-man roster on September 17.