And for a large chunk of the 2022 season, he lived up to the hype, amassing three sacks, seven tackles for loss, and a pass deflection in eight games. 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. Smith became the starting OLB/EDGE for the Bulldogs in 2021. Working on the consistency of his use of hands to defeat the offensive lineman's hands will allow him to grow in that department. Smith has experience rushing from two and three-point stances, but he appears most comfortable playing in a two-point stance. 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). The silver lining for Smith is this: Hes already an excellent run defender. He's violent when shedding and has shown flashes of using his quickness to defeat blocks, too. Not only is Smith explosive, but he also has exceptional lateral mobility and short-area agility. --CBS Sports NFL Draft analyst Josh Edwards (Oct. 4). A 5-star recruit in the 2019 class, No. 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. He will need to get with coaches and seriously develop better ways to attack the pocket and gain counters that he currently lacks. Smith compared well with Reddick as an edge rusher. In 38 career games, the speedy Smith totaled 12.5 sacks, 20 TFLs and 110 total tackles while forcing three fumbles and breaking up three passes. And that same athleticism can allow Smith to be a space defender, as well as destroy outside gaps in run defense. Nolan Smith NFL Draft Scouting Report. Hes also proven to be a pretty good football player while at Georgia, though not necessarily in the expected way. Even with his frame, he plays with violence and urgency, has excellent leverage acquisition, and uses his explosive athleticism and flexibility to dominate in congested areas. Fourth-year senior. On passing downs, he times up the snap well and has good acceleration off the ball to win with speed. 24 overall. But his athletic traits lend him impressive pass-rushing upside as well. 19), tight end Darnell Washington (No. Howie Roseman and company moved up one selection in a trade with the Chicago Bears to secure perhaps the most talented player in the 2023 NFL Draft class. March 6, 2023 12:33 pm CT. Heres a scouting report on Smith from NFL.coms Lance Zierlein: Lower weight class edge defender with the toughness to mix it up with bigger players. Could afford to add some weight to help him hold ground against base blocks from the bigger and elite NFL offensive tackles. He approaches every play with a you cant block me mentality and I love it. Nolan Smith, Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Nakobe Dean are always together, but on Thursday night, they were officially reunited in a business capacity . Interestingly, run defense is where Smiths traits translate best or at least most consistently. 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? Smith was the No. NFL Draft 2023: Scouting report on Eagles pick Nolan Smith Due to his stellar run defense, Smith projects as a potential three-down defender in year one. H.S. 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. Already, Smith is a high-level run defender. (57%*), 81 Jared Carrabis, Dallas Braden and the guys from Baseball Is Dead are joined by WWE announcer Corey Graves to talk about the Pirates, wrestling crowds and more. Smith makes up for his undersized stature with great technique, playing with low pad level and consistently winning inside hand placement to stand up tackles and control the point of attack.". Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. He applied pressure on roughly 21.9% of his pass rush attempts in 2020, 10.9% in 2021, and 18.3% in 2022. Void in ONT. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/draft/free/stories, at 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. A potential first-rounder who is somewhat under the radar due to an injury, this Georgia Bulldog brings some impressive snarl in a smaller package. He is a model team leader and is mentally one of the best locker-room guys you could find. Kirby Smart didnt stumble on his abundance of defensive talent by accident. Nolan Smith arrived at Georgia as one of the top recruits in the country in 2019 and played immediately as a pass-rush specialist. He is considered the third-best linebacker prospect in the draft. Smith is hard to move off of his spot due to his technique and leverage, and he can be disruptive when firing into gaps. It all starts with Smiths freakish get-off, where he keys the center and times the snap very well and his explosive first step covers a lot of ground. 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. He kept that primary role in his four years with the Bulldogs, becoming a full-time starter in 2021. Takes on blocks with a wide base and is stronger than his 235-pound frame would suggest to hold his ground versus offensive tackles. As a pass rusher, Smith uses his next-level speed to scream into offensive linemen and has enough bend to slip by blockers for immediate pressure. Is it ever too early to start talking about next year's draft? However, few, if any, prospects have the same athleticism, bend, and size-relative strength that Smith has. Scouting Report Evaluated 08/23/2018. Background: Rotated into the defense in his first two seasons with the Bulldogs, posting 18-2.5-2.5 and 21-2.5-2.5 in his first two years over . But if you have a vision for his role and development at the next level, the tools are almost second to none. He's likely going to have trouble with pressure on first and second downs as he won't be able to win with speed getting off the ball so late and struggles to collapse the pocket as a bull-rusher. To add to his power and physicality, he is an explosive downhill athlete. Smith has first-round athletic ability, and its very reasonable to consider him within the top 31 picks. Additionally, he shows off the elite closing speed necessary to negate options and outside runs. With Marcus Davenport becoming a pending free agent and a lacking pass rush from, the . His lack of size and length are better-suited for a transition to more of a SAM backer than a full EDGE, though he doesnt have the lateral agility or experience to play there right away. Smith doesnt have a full set of moves and counters to employ consistently. Eligibility restrictions apply. Ferocious against the run and very good in coverage, is extremely versatile. That's closer to how he was used in college, but he wasn't the best in coverage which could be an issue in that scheme at the next level. (55%*), 238 (93%*), 4.39 (C) For the second time in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Eagles went with a key member of the two-time defending national champions. Impact upper tier Power 5 starter and No. That being said, he does have good athleticism to flush that part of his game out. Smith has an explosive first step to threaten offensive tackles outside shoulders. 2023 NFL Draft Preview: Scouting report on Georgia edge Nolan Smith . Despite his build, Smith holds up well in traffic and makes a lot of plays by engaging a block, shedding, and pursuing. And his non-elite length is a limitation thats here to stay. 5-Star recruit per 247 Sports. (99%*), 128 (C) 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. Impressive change of direction and quickness to win with inside and outside stick moves, especially if he can be more consistent with his use of hands. Gambling Problem? A 5-star recruit in the 2019 class, No. Smith is a very impressive athlete with excellent playing strength for his size. His get-off is much slower and more deliberate on running downs, which makes it more difficult for him to win around the edge if the offense does pass and leads to a slower run-pass transition versus play action. 30 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Georgia EDGE Nolan Smith. Smith hopes to get selected just as highly as he enters the 2023 NFL draft. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & resort (KS). Smith joins a growing list of former UGA defensive players in Philly, with Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean being selected last season and Jalen Carter being selected earlier in the night. He'd often cover grass in zone coverage and would struggle to stay in phase versus tight ends in man. He can also pinch incredibly tight angles with his ankle flexion and accelerate through to invade the pocket. He can effectively anchor and has the flexibility and natural balance to absorb blocks. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. *Percentile calculated on how any given stat would rank at the NFL combine Smith has admirable flexibility where he can bend around the edges or slice across the blocker to win the inside track. Named one of three team captains for the Vanderbilt game. Smith navigates through blocking assignments as well and is persistent in his pursuit of the ball carrier. 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. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports. historically in the player's position group (Higher value represents better perfomance). His punches land with the power to shock blockers but shedding is still a work in progress. However, the Georgia EDGE can be stonewalled by linemen without proper momentum. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Nolan Smith - walterfootball.com He will make his impact felt as a run defender and earn his keep, as he develops in the pass-rush department. April 30, 2023 5:06 pm ET. Support NJ.com, Brian Fonseca | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. In the right scheme and role, he could be a true defensive catalyst with more time to grow. 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. Not very effective in line games as the looper or penetrator. One of the holdovers from the 2021 Georgia defense, can edge rusher Nolan Smith crack Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft with his scouting report? We would love to see this progression continue into the NFL, as he has the physical tools to become an elite defensive player, whether hes coming off the edge or slotted at linebacker. Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Philadelphia Eagles? He mirrored that production in 2020 and took another step forward in the teams championship-winning 2021 campaign. List of teams that have advanced to second round of 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Updated bracket heading into second round of 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, How to watch Avalanche vs. Kraken in Game 7 of first round in 2023 NHL Playoffs via live stream, Kings outlook heading into 2023 offseason, Everything you need to know for Warriors vs. Lakers in the second round of 2023 NBA playoffs. 1 recruit of the 2019 class, Smith has been a highly touted prospect for quite some time. 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. Please check your email for a confirmation. Physical at the point of attack and has pop in his hands to get extension and shed blocks from offensive tackles fairly easily. He can also be lethal when slanting with how quick and agile he is to throw off blockers' angels and get penetration. I appreciate the ferocity he plays with because that is not a teachable traityou either have it or you dont. Pro Football Network, LLC. No. Here is a comprehensive scouting report . Weight-238 lbs. That being said, he is unrefined with his hands to effectively defeat pass blocks with optimal quickness. Nolan Smith from IMG Academy High School was rated a 5-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 5-star grade by 247 Sports. 30 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. By Tom Ignudo. Impressive change of direction and quickness to win with inside and outside stick moves, especially if he can be more consistent with his use of hands. With the No. In the 2023 NFL Draft, Smith has the potential to go as high as the middle of the first round. Physical at the point of attack and has pop in his hands to get extension and shed blocks from offensive tackles fairly easily. 30 The Eagles selected Nolan Smith at No. Nolan Smith: Scouting Report Though undersized for a 3-4 outside linebacker at 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds, Smith has genuinely rare athletic traits. Detroit Lions NFL scouting report Georgia Bulldogs Nolan Smith - Sports 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. April 27, 2023 / 11:45 PM / CBS Philadelphia. On passing downs, he times up the snap well and has good acceleration off the ball to win with speed. Georgia 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports Include Kearis Jackson, Nolan Production Score: 72. Below is a comprehensive draft profile for Smith, including his high school and college accolades, scouting report and NFL prospect outlook. Smith can be used as a rangy run defender inside, instinctive when it comes to locating the ball with the quickness to get to it before blockers can react at the second level. He has a very accurate. 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. Needs to be more consistent with the accuracy of his hand swipes when starting pass-rush moves. However, recovering from a torn pec might scare some of these teams off. Nolan Smith Linebacker - EDGE Georgia | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report Smith is a former five-star recruit and finalist for the Anthony Munoz Lineman of the Year award as a senior. Can set the edge versus outside zone or as the force player against pullers on power and counter. Click Here. Not very effective in line games as the looper or penetrator. Nolan Smith EDGE - Scouting Report - Belly Up Sports While the Georgia EDGE has immense untapped potential, he also has visible room for improvement there. Sign up for the The Draft Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Smith was arguably their greatest addition. 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. MORE: PFNs FREE Mock Draft Simulator (With Trades). 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. Below is a list of mock drafts and where they have Smith going. 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. Yet, he can be too reliant on bull rushes and speed-to-power moves. Youve now completed your Big Board, but if you want to save it youll need to become a TDN Premium member. Despite being an impressive elite athlete - his production as a pass rusher has only been decent. In Detroits base 4-2-5, thats a limited role. Smith has a tough, proactive mentality in run defense and isnt afraid to square up larger blockers. Works to get to square during the stem phase of a rush to give himself a two-way go and has a nice hesitation/skip move to win around the edge. Run defense can be an area of concern for smaller EDGE prospects, but its a massive strength for Smith, and his athleticism translates extremely well in pursuit. Moreover, Smith can violently rip down opposing anchors after assuming control. 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 . Fresh off helping Georgia secure back-to-back championships, outside linebacker Nolan Smith has departed for the 2023 NFL Draft. There is also an inherent injury risk as well with Smith coming off a pec injury. He currently ranks as the 18th overall prospect on the consensus big board and regularly features in the middle of Round 1 in mocks. That's closer to how he was used in college, but he wasn't the best in coverage which could be an issue in that scheme at the next level. 35) round out the quintet. The Georgia native shows good change of direction and first-step quickness." Nolan Smith projects as an important rotational EDGE early in his career, with the upside to quickly become a starter in a "multiple" defense. The Philadelphia Eagles currently hold two first-round picks . Nolan Smith is an edge rusher who lacks the bulk to hold up blockers or walk them back. Projecting to his third year, Smith can be a full-time edge defender that will not come off the field. 20th-ranked prospect of all-time. He gets extension against offensive linemen pretty easily and will occasionally have them falling on their faces with how violent he is when shedding. He sets up his stick moves well by getting to square and giving himself a two-way go, and he has the bend to turn tight corners when winning around the edge. 1 WDE, per 247Sports composite rating. Over the next couple of months, we are going to be taking a look at a handful of draft prospects leading up to the 2023 NFL draft. The Athletic recently projected Smith to the Houston Texans with the No. 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. Smith is a former five-star recruit and finalist for the Anthony Munoz Lineman of the Year award as a senior. Eagles NFL Draft Target: UGA LB Nolan Smith Scouting Report Didn't look comfortable dropping into coverage. His power rushes can be easily absorbed and neutralized by stronger blockers. However, he's certainly a run-first player, which has a distinct impact on his get-off in rushing situations. Based purely upon his sleek but smallish frame, one might expect him to be more effective as a rusher than run defender but the opposite is true. An enticing blend of size and athleticism, One of the most physical players in college football, A two-way defender, impactful versus the run and pass, Can be viewed as a tweener/hybrid defender without a defined role, Hand-to-hand combat skills need improvement, : Attacking/slanting assignments in an odd front, : Oregon (2022), South Carolina (2022), Auburn (2022), Missouri (2022), Tradeable picks in the Mock Draft Machine. Height: 6-foot-2. He shows . Nolan Smith Scouting Report - Draft Dive Doesn't have a ton of power behind his bull rush and doesn't work to get on an edge to collapse the pocket against offensive tackles. Even after a long career at Georgia, Smith is still more of a projection than one would prefer. Its a weird amalgamation. 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. Edge-rusher Nolan Smith (No. Teams will be betting big that they can unlock the talent of Smith, who has yet to emerge as the top pass rusher his athletic charts say he can be. His brand of athleticism would normally bill him as a special pass-rushing threat because he has hyper-elite burst and bend capacity. He can also be lethal when slanting with how quick and agile he is to throw off blockers' angels and get penetration. Nolan Smith is a 6-3, 232-pound Weak-Side Defensive End from Savannah, GA. . Good bend to turn a tight corner and take an efficient path to the quarterback after winning around the edge. Nolan Smith NFL Draft Scouting Report - Draft Network 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. Smith is viewed in high regard by his teammates and coaches as a dynamic leader in the locker room. Smith can effortlessly reduce his surface area around the apex and accelerate while cornering. He did get more accurate with his hands from year-to-year, showing growth in that area. 11 Oregon, One QB sack that forced an intentional grounding penalty in the win over Vanderbilt, Tackle for lost yardage and a QB hurry in win over Samford, Named to preseason watch lists for the Outland Trophy (nation's top interior lineman) and Bronko Nagurski Trophy (nation's top defender), Second-team pre-season All-America selection by Athlon Sports, Led the Bulldogs in tackles (8) in Capital One Orange Bowl win over Michigan, Three tackles, one for loss, two QB hurries and a pivotal play of Georgias win over Missouri, when he blocked a second-quarter Tiger punt that resulted in a safety, Four total stops in win over Floridaadded three career firsts vs. the Gators: forced fumble, fumble recovery and interception, all in a 39-second span of the second quarter, Twice named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week: vs. USC and Florida. And in the right hands, he can be an invaluable defensive piece. video for Is there really no failure in sports? With the Chargers having needs at various positions, we will do our best to evaluate the players that we feel fit the team precisely. He could play as a standup outside linebacker on odd fronts, too.
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