Former high school quarterback who converted to cornerback at Toledo and has only two full years of starting experience — and it shows in his upside-meets-rawness profile. Smith is a sticky, competitive man-coverage defender in the slot who thrives pressing at the line and uses quick feet to stay in phase, but his undersized frame (5-10, 196) and average recovery speed limit him to a nickel-only role at the next level. He's a gambler — the kind of aggressive, instinct-driven cover man who will jump a route for a PBU and then bite on a double move the next snap. The floor is a core special teamer with sub-package value; the ceiling is a starting nickel corner if the discipline catches up with the competitive fire.
- Sticky man-coverage corner who is patient at the line and makes clean transitions into routes
- Aggressive, competitive mentality with excellent run-fitting instincts and willingness to play physical in support
- Natural blitzer from the slot with good timing and burst
- Former QB background gives him high football IQ and route recognition that exceeds his experience level
- Impressive Shrine Bowl showing against higher-level competition validated his ability to compete up
- Undersized at 5-10, 196 with limited play strength to stack and shed blocks on the boundary
- Takes risks and bites on double moves — recovery speed is only average when he's beaten early
- Only two years of full-time starting experience at cornerback, still developing technique
- MAC competition level means most of his dominance came against receivers who won't be in the NFL
Undersized, aggressive slot corner with strong press technique and run-support instincts, but limited by size and recovery speed. Both are MAC products who project as nickel contributors with special teams value rather than boundary starters.