Smiths ability to work well in tight quarters or in a wide-nine alignment can put offensive tackles in conflict. Fresh off helping Georgia secure back-to-back championships, outside linebacker Nolan Smith has departed for the 2023 NFL Draft. Below is a comprehensive draft profile for Smith, including his high school and college accolades, scouting report and NFL prospect outlook. Smith is an elite athlete. His hands, at their best, are amped-up and possess surprising knock-back power. Smith can be locked up by longer tackles, and if his initial speed-to-power moves dont land, he can struggle to penetrate the pocket past that point. This never got better during his time at Georgia, which is concerning. With several Bulldogs defenders departing Athens to become first-round picks in this past April's draft, Smith is now looked at as one of the leaders and best players on what is another stout unit. He'd often cover grass in zone coverage and would struggle to stay in phase versus tight ends in man. He's not going to miss many tackles. Speed it top end for the position, and would be considered top end for most any position. Not only is Smith explosive, but he also has exceptional lateral mobility and short-area agility. Smith can effortlessly reduce his surface area around the apex and accelerate while cornering. When slanting against the run, he covers so much ground laterally that he doesn't have to tip it with pre-snap alignment. He has trouble stacking counters with his initial plan, and he doesnt have the kind of raw power to generate imbalance repeatedly. He gets extension against offensive linemen pretty easily and will occasionally have them falling on their faces with how violent he is when shedding. Smith hopes to get selected. According to NFL Mock Draft Database, Smith is a projected first-round pick. Personally, I have a fringe top-50 grade on Smith. Smith might have a tougher time holding up against the bigger and more physical offensive tackles at the next level with his lean frame, but he has plenty of room for growth to add 10 to 15 pounds. Height: 6-foot-2. Most mock drafts have him in the back half of the first round somewhere between 16-32. With his twitch, Smith can generate ample short-area momentum with little strain, force tackles to overset, and capitalize with his instant burst. Call (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelpline.ma.org (MA), Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Nolan Smith Scouting Report One of the holdovers of the historic 2021 Georgia defense, Smith flashed the ability to take over in 2022 before an injury prematurely ended his season. His elite athleticism can buoy a drastic ascent as a pass-rushing threat, both one-on-one against tackles and as a blitzer. Though his stature will make him a difficult projection for some teams, other talent evaluators will see a position-fluid defender who can rush the passer as well chase down ball carriers in all areas of the field. Smith isnt perfect operationally yet, but he undoubtedly has the want-to. Nolan Smith arrived at Georgia as one of the top recruits in the country in 2019 and played immediately as a pass-rush specialist. | Franklin, Scouting report on Eagles 1st round pick Jalen Carter. Who will Panthers face in second round of 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs? He adds an additional layer in pass coverage as well, where his speed and length take over once more; Smith can fairly reliably drop into coverage with backs and tight ends. Hes dynamic, well-built, and he interviews well. Will not work to the same way at the next level, Trouble stacking counters with initial moves, Struggles with momentum when met by bigger stronger linemen. . Can set the edge versus outside zone or as the force player against pullers on power and counter. historically in the player's position group (Higher value represents better perfomance). A product of the famed IMG Academy, Smith had a recorded 4.51 40-yard dash, a 4.15 shuttle time, and a 39.6 vertical out of high school. Lions 2023 NFL draft profile: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech. Scouting Report Evaluated 08/23/2018. With his mobility, the Georgia EDGE can be a nightmare for space runners in pursuit. But right now, hes still relatively underdeveloped as a hand fighter. Note: This profile will be updated as more information becomes available. Heres ProFootballFocus report on Smith: The No. 13), offensive tackle Broderick Jones (No. Not very effective in line games as the looper or penetrator. Grade. Takes on blocks with a wide base and is stronger than his 235-pound frame would suggest to hold his ground versus offensive tackles. Smith has admirable flexibility where he can bend around the edges or slice across the blocker to win the inside track. When studying Smith, the three words I wrote down to capture/describe his game were: physical, violent, and relentless. (99%*), 128 (C) Though undersized for a 3-4 outside linebacker at 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds, Smith has genuinely rare athletic traits. Smith has an unconventional body type for an NFL. Can attack the edge with speed and has the flexibility to dip low and under the tackle's reach. Even after a long career at Georgia, Smith is still more of a projection than one would prefer. His first step, when used properly, can propel him upfield and into action quickly. Its a weird amalgamation. He could afford to push vertical more on the tackle to help sell the game. All Rights Reserved. (55%*), 238 2023 NFL Draft Nolan Smith Scouting Report The former number one overall recruit from 2019 may not be the first pass rusher off the board this draft, but he may just be the one generating the most buzz. No. OVERALL DRAFT SCORE: 87. We break down Georgia linebacker Nolan Smith with a scouting report heading into the 2023 NFL Draft. Nolan Smith is a 6-3, 232-pound Weak-Side Defensive End from Savannah, GA. . Smith digs his feet into the turf and creates a nearly immovable object versus the run. Smith doesnt have the great raw power that his teammate Travon Walker a similarly raw prospect coming out had in the 2022 cycle. Comments are closed. ALL YOU NEED IS A FREE TDN ACCOUNT TO START A MOCK. How will his scouting report evolve between now and April?. He can be more consistent and efficient employing his athleticism, and his speed to power, while solid, is hindered at times by his lack of elite mass and length. He did get more accurate with his hands from year-to-year, showing growth in that area. That proved to be the breakthrough season for both him and the program with Smith recording eight tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks as the Bulldogs secured their first national title since 1980. 26) and safety Christopher Smith (No. (with WWEs Corey Graves). Working on the consistency of his use of hands to defeat the offensive lineman's hands will allow him to grow in that department. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Please check your email for a confirmation. A 5-star recruit in the 2019 class, No. One area of his game that could improve is his overall strength and turning speed to power in his rush. Lastly, Smith has proven he can identify screens and shade out into coverage with his lateral athleticism, and he has more than enough speed to close gaps in this phase. Becoming more technical with his hands to deconstruct and shed blocks can unlock his full potential at the next level. All Rights Reserved. Kirby Smart didnt stumble on his abundance of defensive talent by accident. April 27, 2023 / 11:45 PM / CBS Philadelphia. He can get off the mark as a rusher, but lacks the counters and contact balance to consistently assault the pocket at a high rate. When slanting against the run, he covers so much ground laterally that he doesn't have to tip it with pre-snap alignment. Smith is unofficially listed at 6'3", 235 lbs. Needs to be more consistent with the accuracy of his hand swipes when starting pass-rush moves. The New Orleans Saints got back into the first round of the 2023 NFL draft, and have a wide range of ways that they could go with their selection. Already, Smith is a high-level run defender. Sign up for the The Draft Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. The Georgia edge rusher developed more pass-rushing moves and became dominant against the run. His stance can be more efficient, and he hesitates at times. New Orleans Saints 2023 NFL draft scouting report: EDGE Nolan Smith. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). He can also change directions quickly, is very light-footed in space, and has the athleticism and fluidity to drop into coverage and roam to the sideline. And it all started to come together for him over the last two seasons at Georgia after grading below 70.0 in each of his first two college seasons, he earned overall grades of 85.0 (2021) and 83.7 (2022) to finish his career. To add to his power and physicality, he is an explosive downhill athlete. He should be a consideration at No. He could play as a standup outside linebacker on odd fronts, too. Smith has experience rushing from two and three-point stances, but he appears most comfortable playing in a two-point stance. Nolan Smith arrived at Georgia as one of the top recruits in the country in 2019 and played immediately as a pass-rush specialist. Games watched: Alabama 2021 (SEC Title), Oregon 2022, South Carolina 2022 . Production Score: 72. (93%*), 4.39 (C) Smith doesnt have a full set of moves and counters to employ consistently. Smith is lean, a bit undersized, and lacks elite length. The B/R NFL. Has crazy speed and very good strength considering his 235lb frame. While he is not fully developed as a pass rusher, there are clear signs of potential in his unreal speed for his size and frame that will be up to the right team to unlock. Nolan Smith is an edge rusher who lacks the bulk to hold up blockers or walk them back. Impact upper tier Power 5 starter and No. Nolan Smith projects as an important rotational EDGE early in his career, with the upside to quickly become a starter in a "multiple" defense. PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Eagles selected Georgia EDGE rusher Nolan Smith with the No. Smiths projection is different from those who came before him, but with his explosive athleticism and exciting upside, he could be a game-changer in the NFL. Check out the SI.com team page here. Most effective when uncovered inside and chasing stretch plays to the sideline. 1 recruit of the 2019 class, Smith has been a highly touted prospect for quite some time. 35) round out the quintet. Good bend to turn a tight corner and take an efficient path to the quarterback after winning around the edge. Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MA/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Yet another talented edge rusher from the elite Georgia defense, Nolan Smith will look to prove he is as good as the other Bulldog defenders drafted before him. Hes overly reliant on his first step, length, and power to overcome opponents, which can limit his ceiling to the next level. Has some injury concerns - has missed time in both 2021 and 2022, He may need to be covered up to be effective and can be neutralized by running at him, Smith's hand usage will need be cleaner and more coordinated, He relies far too much on speed and doesn't have a complete set of pass-rushing moves, He's overly reliant on bull rushes - dominates smaller college players. And that same athleticism can allow Smith to be a space defender, as well as destroy outside gaps in run defense. March 6, 2023 12:33 pm CT. The Georgia EDGE has the tools to be dynamic in that phase. As a run defender Smith shines through, using that same combination of speed and strength to attack through offensive linemen and wrap up ball carriers. See our ethics statement. Smith could emerge as a more impactful pass rusher in the same position James Houston currently occupies. Additionally, he shows off the elite closing speed necessary to negate options and outside runs. At the same time, he is exceptionally raw. Below is a comprehensive draft profile for Smith, including his high school and college accolades, scouting report and NFL prospect outlook. Check out Nolan Smith's full 247Sports profile, here. Projecting to his third year, Smith can be a full-time edge defender that will not come off the field. Original: Jun 13, 2022. https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2023/04/09/nolan-smith-scouting-report-2023-nfl-draft-profile/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy, Very sudden off the snap with an excellent 1-2 step burst, Outstanding athletic testing: 4.39 40-yard dash, 41.5 vertical, Plays stronger than his size would indicate, Aggressive edge-setter versus the run who can anchor and stand up blockers with his leverage, Has spatial awareness and decent instincts when dropping into coverage, Good at getting off blocks and closing on the ball carrier in run defense, Can work in concert with linemen and reacts quickly when given an opportunity to play off those inside moves, Excelled on special teams early in his Georgia career, Extremely undersized to be a full-time EDGE in the NFL and will almost have to play as a stand-up, wide-aligned OLB to rush the passer, Short arms (32) limit his tackle radius and wrapping ability, Doesnt play to his timed speed consistently, Relies on initial jolting power to create space for himself, must develop countermoves and more variety, Some tightness in his hips and ankles in turning the corner and in open-field pursuit, Coming off a torn pectoral muscle that required surgery, Low college production for such an athlete with talent around him to get him isolated blocking looks. He is explosive, agile, and a DAWG, and therefore he is a menace when he is at his best. The Georgia native shows good change of direction and first-step quickness." And with his speed off the ball and serviceable length, he can work speed to power, long-arm his blockers outside shoulder, and stack rips in quick succession. Yet, he can be too reliant on bull rushes and speed-to-power moves. For someone who is only listed at 235 pounds, Nolan Smith is a lot stronger than you'd think and is surprisingly a better run defender than pass-rusher. That being said, he is unrefined with his hands to effectively defeat pass blocks with optimal quickness. There are not many human beings walking around that look like him that can do the things he does from an athletic standpoint, and it is worth the risk should he develop into maximizing those gifts. However, recovering from a torn pec might scare some of these teams off. On passing downs, he times up the snap well and has good acceleration off the ball to win with speed. In the right scheme and role, he could be a true defensive catalyst with more time to grow. Working on the consistency of his use of hands to defeat the offensive lineman's hands will allow him to grow in that department. His power rushes can be easily absorbed and neutralized by stronger blockers. Despite being an impressive elite athlete - his production as a pass rusher has only been decent. In a modern NFL where coaches are becoming more and more open to versatility, Smith could perfectly fit the mold of a hybrid outside linebacker with SAM and on-ball pass-rushing capabilities. H.S. OLB Nolan Smith: NFL Draft scouting report, When should Pirates fans buy into this team? Smith can easily get under blockers and inside their torso, using that positioning to control reps. Sign up to receive all the latest news and annoucements. 9 overall pick, beginning with the 62nd overall selection. The Philadelphia Eagles currently hold two first-round picks and four picks in the top 100, and Smith could be a target for Howie Roseman and his staff early in the draft. As a result, Smith is a difficult task to block in the run game, especially for tight ends. Void in ONT. Takes on blocks with a wide base and is stronger than his 235-pound frame would suggest to hold his ground versus offensive tackles. Despite his build, Smith holds up well in traffic and makes a lot of plays by engaging a block, shedding, and pursuing. Smith is a very impressive athlete with excellent playing strength for his size. (AP Photo/John Amis). Smith became the starting OLB/EDGE for the Bulldogs in 2021. Furthermore, he doesnt always play to his full explosive capacity off the line. (with WWEs Corey Graves). (57%*), 81 Due to his stellar run defense, Smith projects as a potential three-down defender in year one. Having an edge defender that can drop into coverage, stuff the run, and get after the passer cannot be undervalued. (21%*), 32 5/8 Hes also proven to be a pretty good football player while at Georgia, though not necessarily in the expected way. Once the top-ranked recruit coming out of high school, Smith saw immediate action upon arrival in Athens. Going further, Smiths length, while not a liability, is average. 30 The Eagles selected Nolan Smith at No. Smith is quite thin to be playing against bigger offensive linemen, and while he was not swallowed up in college by any means, there is a possibility of that happening with the bigger and better athletes in the NFL. His brand of athleticism would normally bill him as a special pass-rushing threat because he has hyper-elite burst and bend capacity. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/draft/free/stories, at Here is a comprehensive scouting report . He brings a level of energy that is not easily replicated. Nolan Smith (LB - Georgia) 6'3 - 235 lbs. Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) scrambles against Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Nolan Smith (4) during the second quarter in the Orange Bowl college football CFP national semifinal game at Hard Rock Stadium. Lacks pop due to his smaller size to anchor, though. Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder. Didn't look comfortable dropping into coverage. He'd often cover grass in zone coverage and would struggle to stay in phase versus tight ends in man. Smith will be taken in the first round on potential alone. Support NJ.com, Brian Fonseca | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. As his testing numbers at the NFL Combine exemplify, Smith is a tremendous athlete. Nolan Smith Scouting Report - Draft Dive Spotlight Nolan Smith Scouting Report 0 2022 nfl draft Georgia Bulldogs Georgia LB Georgia Linebacker NFL Draft 2022 NFL Draft sleeper Nolan Smith Nolan Smith Draft Nolan Smith NFL Nolan Smith NFL Draft . He is a model team leader and is mentally one of the best locker-room guys you could find. Impressive change of direction and quickness to win with inside and outside stick moves. historically in the player's position group (Higher value represents better perfomance). He will make his impact felt as a run defender and earn his keep, as he develops in the pass-rush department. In 2019 as a freshman Smith saw action in 14 games and played a total of 287 snaps for the Bulldogs. He's not going to miss many tackles. High school:IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)Class: 2019Composite Rating: (0.9994), High school accolades: First-team All-American (MaxPreps), first-team All-USA (USA Today), first-team junior All-American (MaxPreps), second-team sophomore All-American (MaxPreps), 2016 All-State Class A-Private first-team defense (Georgia Sports Writers Association and the Atlanta Journal Constitution). Off the jump, it is clear that Nolan Smith is immensely talented, with a height/weight/speed combination that is rare to find coming into the league. As Smith's NFL Draft Bible profile reads, "Smith does a great job to set the edge and uses his length to stack and shed, often closing a rushing lane plus making the tackle for a stuff. His full-body strength is on display consistently but his base is where it begins. Georgia 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports Include Kearis Jackson, Nolan Smith, and Stetson Bennett With the potential of four Georgia NFL Draft prospects going in the first round, what is the full slate of scouting reports for their players this year? Odds and lines subject to change. Unfortunately, early in the Bulldogs ninth game, Smith suffered a torn pectoral and was lost for the rest of the season. 1 WDE, per 247Sports composite rating. Not very effective in line games as the looper or penetrator. Stats: 110 tackles, 63 solo, 12.5 sacks, 20.0 tackles for loss,1 interception, 3 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery.
-
nolan smith scouting report
nolan smith scouting report
nolan smith scouting report