Auburn’s official Twitter account announced on Friday that former Tigers offensive lineman and linebacker Zeke Smith, passed away.

Smith was 79-years-old at the time of his passing. Auburn’s annual defensive player of the year award is named after Smith, and rightfully so.

Smith won the Outland Trophy in 1958 as the nation’s top interior lineman and won the 1957 national championship with the Tigers. He was a consensus All-American in 1958 and again in 1959 by the AFCA and Sporting News.

The former fullback was selected No. 48 overall in the 1959 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts.