CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- For the third straight year, University of North Alabama graduate defensive back K.J. Smith of Perry, Ga., has been named the Big South Conference Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

The honor recognizes the league's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.

The Scholar-Athletes of the Year are voted on by the Big South Sports Information Directors from a pool of each sport's Scholar-Athlete winner during the past season.

Smith also claimed the award as the top male student-athlete among all Big South institutions in 2019-20 and 2020-21, becoming the first male student-athlete in conference history to claim the honor three times.

A three-time, first-team Academic All-America® Football Team member as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), Smith earned both Bachelor's and Masters degrees from UNA during his playing career from 2018-21.

Smith was previously named to the Division I, Academic All-District 4 team for a third straight year as well and was an FCS ADA Academic All-Star in 2021.

Smith graduated with a 4.0 GPA while earning a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, with an emphasis on Health. He also received his Master of Science in Health and Human Performance degree from UNA with a 3.90 GPA.

On the field, Smith was named All-Big South Conference for the second straight season after leading the conference with six interceptions and ranking second in interception return yardage at 69. He was also second in the league in total passes defended with 12. He made 32 solo tackles and added 10 assist

2019
Big South Conference All-Academic Team
Big South Conference Football Scholar Athlete of the Year
Big South Conference Male Scholar Athlete of the Year
STATS FCS Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award National Finalist
CoSIDA Academic All-District 4
First-team CoSIDA Academic All-America®

2020
Second-team All-Big South Conference
Big South Conference All-Academic Team
Big South Conference Football Scholar Athlete of the Year
Big South Conference Male Scholar Athlete of the Year
Big South Conference Presidential Honor Roll
Big South Conference Commissioner's Award
CoSIDA Academic All-District 4
First-team CoSIDA Academic All-America®

2021
First-team All-Big South Conference
First-team Phil Steele All-Big South Conference
Fourth-team Phil Steele All-American
Big South Conference All-Academic Team
Big South Conference Football Scholar Athlete of the Year
Big South Conference Male Scholar Athlete of the Year
CoSIDA Academic All-District 4
First-team CoSIDA Academic All-America®
FCS ADA Academic All-Star