Elerson

Smith

Smith (6’6/252) was a gangly two-star prospect who wasn’t on FBS radars due to him weighing a mere 190 pounds at 6-foot-6. 60 pounds and three years later, the Minneapolis, MN product recorded 63 tackles, 21.5 TFL, 14.0 sacks, five forced fumbles, leading the MVFC in all of those categories en route to being named a first-team FCS All-American in 2019. He diligently committed to adding size to his lean frame and it paid off, as his long limbs make it difficult for blockers to square him up. He was a human torch at the Senior Bowl practices, lighting up offensive linemen in 1-on-1’s and receiving an upper-tier 6.0 performance grade by PFF. Smith’s long strides help him to chew up ground and a quick burst off the line helps him to gain an immediate advantage on the outside. Very active in pursuit and works hard to get off blocks, Smith’s lack of raw power impairs his ability to disengage. A noticeably splindly lower body makes it hard for him to play through contact at times. It’s concerning that he only started one year at the FCS level, though he admittedly dominated in his lone starting season. His testing marks were exceptional, as Smith posted the fifth highest RAS score in the 2021 edge class. He is a raw prospect who will hope to carve out a role as a passing down specialist similar to Yannick Ngakoue.

Smith (6'6/262) is in an interesting place when it comes to the 2021 NFL Draft, as unlike many of the other top defensive ends he did not get to play this past fall. The NCAA moved the FCS season to the spring, which would have interfered with Smith’s draft preparations had he decided to play. While there are some question marks when it comes to his physical build and the competition that he played against, Smith brings some positives to the table as well. “Standing over 6-foot-6, he moves gracefully for his size on tape,” Hodgkinson wrote. “He doesn’t show off consistently elite explosiveness, but he still has exceptional get-off, lateral agility, and some degree of bend.” Smith doesn’t lack for upside, but he is projected by some draft analysts to be a Day 3 selection come April.

Smith (6'7/255) had an excellent 2019 campaign for the Panthers, as he racked up 63 total tackles (21.5 for loss), 14.0 sacks, 14 quarterback hurries, five forced fumbles, four pass breakups and two blocked kicks. As a result the redshirt senior earned first team all-conference and All-American honors, and he was expected by many to be the top defender in the FCS this season. But with the FCS season having been pushed back to the spring, Smith will instead focus his efforts on getting ready for the next level. Pro Football Network draft analyst Tony Pauline has given Smith a sixth round grade.