All-Pro safety Harrison Smith has been well-revered across the league since becoming a full-time starter for the Vikings as a rookie in 2012.
Smith is entering his eighth season in Purple and continues to garner respect from his peers, evidenced Tuesday night when he made yet another appearance on the NFL's Top 100 rankings, which is determined by players' votes.
The 30-year-old held the No. 83 spot this year after ranking 46 last year, 74 in 2017 and 73 in 2016.
Smith is no stranger to the spotlight, but he consistently turns down the attention and individual honors and even poked some fun at the ranking system.
"It's cool that players allegedly respect your game, yeah," Smith said.
He added that it's been encouraging to be joined by several teammates on the Top 100 the past few years.
"I think it's good for the Vikings," Smith said. "It's a team game, but normally when we're playing well, the individual accolades come along with it. And it means we've got a lot of good players. We just have to get to that level as a team."
Smith started all 16 games in 2018, doing so for the second consecutive season. He finished the campaign with 95 total tackles (coaches' tally), second-most on the team. Additionally, he tied a career-high for sacks with 3.0 and tallied three interceptions, 11 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and seven passes defensed.
Smith earned his fourth straight Pro Bowl nod following the 2018 season.
Teammates and opponents alike were interviewed by NFL Films about Smith. Packers wide receiver Davante Adams said the safety is "one of the better players that I've played against" since entering the league in 2014.
"I don't know exactly what his measurables are, but it really doesn't matter, because he's always there, he's always going to make the play," Adams said.
Adams later recalled a specific play in which he was stopped by Smith.
"He beat me on a, I think it was a fourth-and-1, he beat me across my face," Adams said. "I knew he was going to go there, and he still beat me. I can't say there are too many people who are just going to beat me when I know what they're going to do, but when you execute like he does and you're that efficient, then it makes it tough."
Packers running back Jamaal Williams was asked about Smith, who poses a problem for Green Bay twice a year.
"He's full go. All gas, no brakes," said Williams.
"You've just got to watch him. He's a sneaky one. He's sneaky," Williams later said. "Always playing around, trying to mix up things. He may look like he's going to drop off, he'll come back, blitz and get himself a sack.
Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs emphasized how much he enjoys watching Smith in action.
"It's crazy to watch Harry," Diggs said. "I love to watch him make picks. I talk to him all the time, 'I need one this game, I need one this game.'
"Tackles for loss. He gets fumbles. He breaks up passes," Diggs added.
Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter said Smith "can do it all," and receiver Adam Thielen pointed out what makes him such a dangerous defensive weapon.
"He can play zone coverage, he can be in the middle, he can be the middle-of-the-field safety, he can be the down safety," Thielen said. "I think that's what coaches love about him – especially in [Head Coach Mike] Zimmer's defense. He can put him anywhere."
The full grouping of 10 players unveiled during Tuesday's episode of Top 100 were as follows, from 90-81: Patriots WR Julian Edelman, Patriots S Devin McCourty, Steelers DT Cameron Heyward, Panthers QB Cam Newton, Lions CB Darius Slay, Seahawks DE Frank Clark (was traded to the Chiefs this offseason), Browns WR Jarvis Landry, Smith, Broncos OLB Bradley Chubb and Redskins T Trent Williams.
