#10 2021 NFL Draft Prospect: Jordan Smith (UAB)
6’ 6”, 255 pounds; RS JR
Jordan Smith began his career as close to a top-100 overall recruit for the Florida Gators, but was one of nine players suspended for the 2017 season due to his role in an alleged credit card fraud scheme.
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After starring a year at Butler Community College, he transferred to UAB, where he recorded 23.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception in 21 total games, earning second- and first-team All-Conference USA respectively.
When you put on the UAB tape, Smith’s first step is just different to rest of his teammates. In the run game, he shows very quick hands to get off blocks and make offensive tackle slip off routinely, or to avoid blockers altogether.
He is disciplined with contain on the backside of zone runs, while shuffling along at the tackle’s hip, and then he has the crazy closing burst to blow up quarterbacks as they keep the ball on bootlegs. Smith really attacks the mesh-point on zone-read stuff and at times shuts down both options because of how quickly he gets there.
For an outside linebacker, this guy can run like the wind and his speed allows him to create those TFLs when he is unblocked on outside-oriented runs away from him. He tracked down one of the better dual-threats in Miami’s D’Eriq King from behind on a quarterback sweep for no yardage last season.
Smith has some experience dropping into the flats and being physical with receivers trying to get out there. However, what makes him so intriguing is the versatility he can bring as a pressure player, either out of his usual two-point base stance and with his hand in the dirt off the edge on third downs, or as an off-ball blitzer and lining up over guards.
The way he stretches with speed instantly and how his length gives him room for error when trying to clear the hands of blockers are tough things to deal with for any offensive lineman, plus he has some wiggle to him, to go inside or out. Smith often wins around the corner thanks to his violent club and the way he follows through instantly with that second hand.
While he needs to become more consistent with it, he flashes that ability to dip and flatten to the quarterback, as well as a sudden spin move to the inside, which in combination with each other could be a nightmare in terms of how tackles shift their weight to either foot.
Smith is already a menace on cat-like quick up-and-under maneuvers, which he follows up with a double-hand swipe. His sack numbers might have been down a little this past season with 4.5 in eight games, but he provided ten times as many (45) additional pressures, giving him an absurd rate of providing pressure on just over 20 percent of his pass-rush snaps and elite pass-rushing grades by PFF. During Senior Bowl that speed around the edge forced tackles to really jump out of their stance and open up quickly.
Nevertheless, he certainly brings a skinny build and it shows at times in the run game, when he gets taken for a ride if an offensive lineman can get his hands inside Smith’s frame. As a pass-rusher, he also needs to get stronger at powering through the inside shoulder of blockers once he has a good angle, to not allow them to take him off his path.
At this point, he is not very well-versed with his pass-rush plan and lacks the ability to consistently link his arms and hips together, to turn tight(er) corners. Overall, he gets too upright rushing off the edge and presents a large surface area for tackles, plus he offers very little of a bull-rush threat, while shortening the arc with bend isn’t something he does frequently enough at this point to offset that.
The pass-rush tool box Smith presents is something to behold. While I don’t think he will ever be someone who wins consistently with power, he is a speed-ball off the edge, who has shown the ability to flatten.
He doesn’t need to have the greatest weight-room strength, if he just utilizes a long-arm once he gets the tackle off balance. His run defense at the point of attack should improve once he bulks up a little in an NFL training program, although he will probably always be a better chase-player. To me he would really well in a 3-4 base system with hybrid principles, that utilizes his versatility on passing downs.