Maason

Smith

The Jaguars’ secondary took two notable hits this week, with Savage suffering a quad injury in practice and CB Tyson Campbell landing on injured reserve. The developments give the Browns’ flailing passing game a chance to keep pace, though little is guaranteed in that regard.

A former five-star DT who was rated as the 20th overall recruit from the 2021 recruiting cycle, Smith (6’5/301) arrived in Baton Rouge with high expectations. He had immediate success as a freshman, producing 19 tackles, 16 pressures and four sacks while being named to the Freshman All-American Team. Hopes were high for Smith heading into 2022, but he tore an ACL which cost him the entire season. He returned last year but didn’t recreate the magic of his freshman campaign, posting just 4.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks in 12 starts. Though he didn’t put up eye-popping stats, Smith earned a 78th% pass rush grade and tested well enough to earn a strong 8.46 Relative Athletic Score. He has a filled-out frame and prototype 35” length arms to help him keep opposing blockers at bay. A true blue chip three tech with freaky proportions and massive power behind him, Smith is raw thanks to just one year of starting experience but could be molded into a difference-making tackle if he fully buys-in.

Smith (6'4/290) originally signed with the Tigers as the No. 18 overall recruit in the nation from the 2021 recruiting cycle and is set to continue fulfilling the high expectations as he moves forward in his career. Smith finished out the 2021 season with 19 total tackles (13 solo) and four sacks, named a potential defensive lineman breakout player ahead of the 2022 season by PFF’s Anthony Treash.

The impact of this signing cannot be overstated, as LSU managed to keep the mammoth home-grown Louisiana DT Smith (6'4/290) in state. The Houma, LA native is rated as the number one prospect from the state of Louisiana and 18th best recruit in the nation from the 2021 recruiting cycle. He is considered college ready and could help rebuild a LSU front that has been hurt by several departures following their 2019 National Championship run. Smith moves well for a large interior defender and boasts impressive strength at the point of attack. He should fit well in DC Bo Pelini’s 4-3 scheme.

Smith (6'4/290) is still in the process of sorting through his top programs. USC, Oregon, Florida and Oklahoma are among the other potential players, here. The Houma, Louisiana, native plans on putting out a top-eight list on July 4, a list which he will whittle down to five outfits around his birthday (Oct. 13). Rivals’ Sam Spiegelman believes that this recruitment will ultimately boil down to those four initial teams listed at the start -- Bama, UGA, Miami and LSU. Spiegelman’s outlet ranks Smith as the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2021 class.

Foreman and Smith are considered the best players at their position, with Foreman being ranked by Rivals the best player in the 2021 group regardless of where they play. Foreman was once committed to Clemson, and is believed to be a strong lean towards USC at this point. Gorney, however, believes the two players could end up at the same school, and if that did come to fruition, they’d end up at LSU. “It’s no lock that Foreman and Smith will play at the same school,” he writes, “but they are talking about it and building that relationship could be huge.” Huge might be an understatement if these two end up in the same school’s class.

Smith (6'4/290) would like to trek out on spring unofficials to the above five SEC schools, with official visits to follow in the summer and into the fall. It’s still early and these plans could change down the road, but at least for now, that’s what the five-star Houma, Louisiana, native has in mind. If you’re looking for potential programs that could be in play outside his favored quintet, both USC and Ole are ones to keep an eye on. Rivals ranks Smith as the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2021 class.