Nolan Smith is an emotional leader on and off the field for the Georgia Bulldogs. He has a very accurate. He did get more accurate with his hands from year-to-year, showing growth in that area. He can also be more consistent in applying his bend with synergy and loses his balance when attempting to bend around the edge at times. | Franklin, Scouting report on Eagles 1st round pick Jalen Carter. Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Nolan Smith arrived at Georgia as one of the top recruits in the country in 2019 and played immediately as a pass-rush specialist. His first step, when used properly, can propel him upfield and into action quickly. In the 2023 NFL Draft, Smith has the potential to go as high as the middle of the first round. He was an elite athlete with a sturdy frame, oozing first-round potential. 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. We break down Georgia linebacker Nolan Smith with a scouting report heading into the 2023 NFL Draft. He kept that primary role in his four years with the Bulldogs, becoming a full-time starter in 2021. 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). Eagles NFL Draft Target: UGA LB Nolan Smith Scouting Report For his MaxPreps profile, click here. All Rights Reserved. But even more important in his competitive makeup is his natural leverage. Odds and lines subject to change. (99%*), 128 (C) And in the right hands, he can be an invaluable defensive piece. Nolan Smith is a highly touted edge rusher from the University of Georgia who is expected to be a top prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft. 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Nolan Smith (LB - Georgia) Working on the consistency of his use of hands to defeat the offensive lineman's hands will allow him to grow in that department. Most mock drafts have him in the back half of the first round somewhere between 16-32. Smith is unofficially listed at 6'3", 235 lbs. (55%*), 238 Philadelphia selected Georgia linebacker Nolan Smith with the 30th pick of the draft on Thursday after choosing his teammate, defensive tackle Jalen Carter, with the ninth pick earlier in the. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Hes a dense, compact defender who can shock blockers at the point of attack with precise and forceful hands. He approaches every play with a you cant block me mentality and I love it. H.S. 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. Physical at the point of attack and has pop in his hands to get extension and shed blocks from offensive tackles fairly easily. Smith is a former five-star recruit and finalist for the Anthony Munoz Lineman of the Year award as a senior. Lateral Quickness ( 2.5/4) - I don't see a ton of lateral quickness ability. He kept that primary role in his four years with the Bulldogs, becoming a full-time starter in 2021. But if a team thinks they'll be able to add size to his frame in their weight program, he's strong and physical enough as it is to get the job done. 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. Smith digs his feet into the turf and creates a nearly immovable object versus the run. Add him to yourbig boardhere. 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. 3:23 pm ET, Cowboys NFL Draft hub: Full list of picks, team fits, 2023 NFL Draft: Best prospects available in Round 5, Greatness is guaranteed when LeBron, Steph clash, Looking ahead to No. Nolan Smith NFL Draft Scouting Report. He's violent when shedding and has shown flashes of using his quickness to defeat blocks, too. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. But right now, hes still relatively underdeveloped as a hand fighter. In this story: Georgia Bulldogs. He recorded just 8 tackles, 5 assists, while adding 13 stops. Going further, Smith shows glimpses of multitasking, and hes flashed the ability to use swift hand strikes and swipes while bending. In the right scheme and role, he could be a true defensive catalyst with more time to grow. Smith is viewed in high regard by his teammates and coaches as a dynamic leader in the locker room. According to the NFL Mock Draft Database, Smith looks likely to come off the board on Day 1. The Georgia product does have a few traits and moves in his pass-rush arsenal that he can win with on passing downs, though. 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. Its a weird amalgamation. In Detroits base 4-2-5, thats a limited role. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports. Smith produced and impressed more as a run defender than as a pass rusher in college, and hes a power-based player despite having elite speed and explosiveness for an EDGE. Already, Smith is a high-level run defender. Needs to be more consistent with the accuracy of his hand swipes when starting pass-rush moves. Sign up for the Lions Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. He'd often cover grass in zone coverage and would struggle to stay in phase versus tight ends in man. 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. His hands, at their best, are amped-up and possess surprising knock-back power. Ferocious against the run and very good in coverage, is extremely versatile. Nolan Smith Scouting Report 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. 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. Needs to be more consistent with the accuracy of his hand swipes when starting pass-rush moves. Long story short, he has very few flaws against the run and has the upside to be even better with some added mass. Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder. Banks (6-foot, 197 pounds) earned one of the top NGS athleticism scores (98) among prospects to . 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. Smith can effortlessly reduce his surface area around the apex and accelerate while cornering. (AP Photo/John Amis). Smith falls below the size standards some team might have for a 3-4 outside linebacker, but he plays team-first defense with quality technique that should help him translate to the pros. Good bend to turn a tight corner and take an efficient path to the quarterback after winning around the edge. 6.4. All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Nolan Smith 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Nolan Smith - walterfootball.com 1 overall recruit in the 2019 class. By Tony Pauline April 19, 2023 Hes also proven to be a pretty good football player while at Georgia, though not necessarily in the expected way. March 6, 2023 12:33 pm CT. 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. Below is a list of mock drafts and where they have Smith going. He has always been viewed as a project who possesses rare speed and athleticism for an edge defender. He can also pinch incredibly tight angles with his ankle flexion and accelerate through to invade the pocket. 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. 35) round out the quintet. Georgia. 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. However, recovering from a torn pec might scare some of these teams off. Due to his stellar run defense, Smith projects as a potential three-down defender in year one. Eventual Starter. Even after a long career at Georgia, Smith is still more of a projection than one would prefer. Nolan Smith. 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.". *Percentile calculated on how any given stat would rank at the NFL combine 30 The Eagles selected Nolan Smith at No. 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. Comments are closed. The temptation in taking a player like Nolan Smith lies in his size, speed, and athleticism. Smith navigates through blocking assignments as well and is persistent in his pursuit of the ball carrier. 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. 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. Nolan Smith is an edge rusher who lacks the bulk to hold up blockers or walk them back. Good bend to turn a tight corner and take an efficient path to the quarterback after winning around the edge. However, the Georgia EDGE can be stonewalled by linemen without proper momentum. Can set the edge versus outside zone or as the force player against pullers on power and counter. (21%*), 32 5/8 There is a bit of a disconnect between Smiths buzz as a prospect and his on-field production. He is explosive, agile, and a DAWG, and therefore he is a menace when he is at his best. A 5-star recruit in the 2019 class, No. Check out Nolan Smith's full 247Sports profile, here. He can also be lethal when slanting with how quick and agile he is to throw off blockers' angels and get penetration. He played in 11 games as a freshman and 10 more as a sophomore before moving into a starting role during his junior year. The silver lining for Smith is this: Hes already an excellent run defender. Games watched: Alabama 2021 (SEC Title), Oregon 2022, South Carolina 2022 . Smith is hard to move off of his spot due to his technique and leverage, and he can be disruptive when firing into gaps. He shows . PFNs FREE Mock Draft Simulator (With Trades). However, few, if any, prospects have the same athleticism, bend, and size-relative strength that Smith has. Has crazy speed and very good strength considering his 235lb frame. Support NJ.com, Brian Fonseca | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. He throws off the offensive lineman's angle while simultaneously dipping his shoulder to reduce the surface area to block, getting the lineman off-balance so he can get penetration. His punches land with the power to shock blockers but shedding is still a work in progress. 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. Want even more Philadelphia Eagles news? Good bend to turn a tight corner and take an efficient path to the quarterback. He is considered the third-best linebacker prospect in the draft. Scouting Report Evaluated 08/23/2018. 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.
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