Could Georgia’s Nolan Smith go higher than expected in NFL draft?
Former Georgia outside linebacker Nolan Smith has been receiving a lot of attention from NFL teams ever since his very impressive performance at the scouting combine.
ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler discussed which prospects we may see get drafted earlier than many expected, where he identified Smith as a potential candidate.
Some scouts are giving off top-10 vibes for Smith, nothing that the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 17 could be his floor. The Detroit Lions , who have the sixth and 18th picks, have done their homework on Smith , who has improved his stock through the process. Fit will be key for Smith. Given he’s 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds, playing every down as a defensive end could wear him down. Some scouts say he’s best served in a 3-4 defense as a speedy pass-rusher who can also drop into coverage.
The 6-foot-2, 238-pound pass rusher showed off his explosive lower body with a 41.5-inch vertical jump. Only three linebackers have recorded a higher vertical jump in NFL combine history (one of them is former Georgia linebacker Channing Tindall).
Smith ran the fastest 40-yard dash of any linebacker at the combine with a time of 4.39 seconds. He is the heaviest player to have a vertical jump over 40 inches and a 40-yard dash under 4.4 seconds.
