Nolan Sental Smith is an American Football player. Smith was born in Savannah, Georgia on 18 January 2001. He plays as an outside linebacker for the Georgia Bulldogs. In 2018 Smith won the Anthony Munoz Award which is awarded annually to the best linebacker in high school. He is also a member of the Georgia Bulldogs team which won consecutive CFP national championships in 2021 and 2022.
Academically, Nolan Smith has done very well. Smith’s intended major is mathematics. He has earned the Joseph S. Espy Football Scholarship and the John Tillman Football Scholarship.
In football, Nolan has great and smooth movement with a tremendous first step. Quickness and explosiveness are trademarks of his game. He plays the edge defender but is comparatively smaller in size. His overall technique makes it difficult to move him from his spot and he is also adept at finding the gaps. Bending and turning from players to get to the pocket is an ability that he uses often.
Some experts are, however, concerned with his size and weight as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 system. Many believe that he could thrive as an inside linebacker. There is no lack of strength though, and he doesn’t back away from any challenge. If he can build up a little more muscle and weight then there is a good chance Nolan can make ripples in the league. Known to be a team player, this quality will serve him well in the NFL.
Nolan Smith at IMG Academy
Nolan Smith attended the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida for high school as well as the Calvary Day School in Savannah, Georgia. As a senior at IMG, he won the Maxwell Club's Defensive Player of the Year award. In his two years at the school, Nolan played 15 games in which he had 88 tackles, 10.5 sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble. He was ranked the number 1 linebacker in the country by 247Sports and was even compared to Pro Bowl pass rusher Khalil Mack.
Nolan Smith at the University of Georgia
At Georgia, in his Freshman year, Nolan played 14 games and was the co-winner of Defensive Newcomer of the Year for the Bulldogs with 18 tackles and 2.5 sacks. In 2020 and 2021, he had a steady rise in his contributions on the field. Smith played an instrumental part in his team’s 2021 national championship becoming one of the top defenders for the Bulldogs. In 2022, the powerful linebacker decided to stay at Georgia for his Senior year instead of entering the NFL draft. However, after just 3 games into the year, he suffered a season-ending pectoral injury. Nevertheless, with his extraordinary performances in the previous years as well as the NFL combine, Nolan is expected to be drafted in the first round this year.
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