How often do you find a talented athlete who also has all the football intangibles that NFL scouts look for? Not too often, Louisiana Tech defensive tackle D'Anthony Smith is one of those players.

"Boo" to his friends, the 6-foot-2, 300-pounder enters his senior season as one of those players fans east of the Mississippi probably have never heard of. He has started every game in his career with the Bulldogs, save for a few his freshman year.

In 2008, he earned first team All-WAC honors and led the Bulldogs with five sacks and was third on the team with 65 tackles. He was named the school's defensive player in the week four times.

Louisiana Tech defensive coordinator Tommy Spangler has noticed the progression in Smith's game over the past few years. Other teams in the WAC have as well.

"He's become a presence," Spangler said. "The thing with D-lineman though, is once you establish yourself as being that kind of player and you earn a reputation, then all of the sudden people start double-teaming you. They start running away from you and try to do some things to game plan you a little bit."

Smith was a district champion in the shot-put in his four years at Pickering High in Leesville, La. That athleticism has helped on the football field.

"There's no doubt there's a correlation because of the explosion it takes to play both," he said. "Did it play a big factor? I don't know, did it play some, I'm sure it did."

Tech runs a 4-3 defensive alignment. Normally Smith lines up as the 3 technique or as a tackle. Spangler has utilized Smith at end occasionally to use his strength and athleticism for more pressure on the quarterback.

"We'll mix him up," Spangler said. "He's a bright kid, he understands what we're trying to accomplish schematically and he picks those things up where he can handle playing both inside and outside."

Smith picks up the plays quickly and executes them the way they were designed. He does as he is asked without question. They call that coachablility.

"He's a coachable guy based on technique, what you're asking him to do. That's when guys get good. He's gotten to that point," Spangler said.

Smith is dedicated to the game. He is focused on every responsibility, whether it is watching film, getting in the weight room or excelling in the classroom. He gives everything he has.

"He's a D-tackle but he's got skills like a defensive end," Spangler said.

Smith still has room for improvement going into his senior year. For example, the often-smiling player needs to find a bit of a mean streak.

"It takes Boo a lot to kind of play with the violence and the nastiness and the temperament that you need sometimes," Spangler said.

When Smith does add the extra nastiness to his game, watch out.

"I think some things come easy for Boo, so sometimes he relies on that," Spangler said. "Whereas he says [to himself] I think I need to take my level of play up a notch … and really, really tap my potential."

Boo's style is very reminiscent of former Louisville defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, drafted 10th overall by the Houston Texans in the 2007 draft. Smith's current draft projection lists him as the No. 12 defensive tackle heading into next season, the highest non-BCS player at that position.