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Top NFL draft pick robbed of items 'dear to his heart' - report

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This should be the best time of Roquan Smith’s young life.

The 21-year-old linebacker starred for the University of Georgia during its run to the national championship game in January.

Just a couple of weeks ago, he was drafted eighth overall by the Chicago Bears.

His rookie contract is expected to be worth around $18.7 million.

That’s all great, but no amount of money will bring back what Smith had taken from him.

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According to Smith’s aunt, Shawuanda Baker, his property in Athens, Georgia, was just burglarized.

Baker posted the following on Facebook and Twitter:

“Dawg Nation my nephew Roquan Smith has worked sooo hard to play in his UGA jersey and helmet and to one day take it off and hang it on his wall. However, over the past few hours, someone took that away from him by wrongfully taking these items from his property in Athens. My prayer is that the person who committed this crime will deal with their issues and that anyone who knows of information related to this crime will report it immediately to the Athens Police Dept.

“There were a lot of items taken but none more dear to his heart than his UGA jerseys and helmet.

“Thanks for your support and for spreading this unpleasant news with hopes of finding the person who did this.”

https://twitter.com/Shaq_Baker/status/992835428557434880

The report was filed with the Athens Police on Saturday morning, according to DawgNation.com. The report said the stolen property was not in Smith’s home but in his car.

Listed among the items taken were Smith’s 2017 Georgia football helmet and jersey, his Rose Bowl jersey and his jersey from the College Football Playoff championship game.

The list also includes an iPad belonging to the Chicago Bears, four pairs of headphones, watches, sunglasses and Nike athletic shoes.

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Smith was one of the best defensive players in Georgia history, being named the 2017 SEC Defensive Player of the Year and winning the Butkus Award last season as the country’s best linebacker.

He was one of the team’s captains last season, along with Isaiah Wynn and Sony Michel (both first-round picks for New England) and Nick Chubb (a second-round pick of the Browns).

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Mike is an 11-time Michigan Emmy Award winner who has spent nearly 30 years working in sports media.
Mike has spent nearly 30 years in all aspects of sports media, including on-air, 10 at ESPN and another 10 at Fox Sports Detroit. He now works as a TV agent, and lives with his family in West Bloomfield, MI.
Birthplace
Sudbury, Massachusetts
Honors/Awards
11-time Michigan Emmy winner
Education
Emerson College
Books Written
The Longest Year: One Family's Journey Of Life, Death, And Love/If These Walls Could Talk: Detroit Tigers/If These Walls Could Talk: Detroit Lions
Topics of Expertise
Sports




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