Draft Profile Series: Telvin Smith
- Updated: April 26, 2014
As we approach the deepest NFL Draft in recent memory, I’ll give my breakdown and analysis of 75 top prospects in this year’s class. At the conclusion of this series, I will include my final overall and positional rankings, as well as my mock draft.
Telvin Smith, OLB, 6-3, 220, Florida State
Key stats: Posted 90 tackles, 9.5 for loss, 2 sacks and 3 picks, two forced fumbles and two TDs in 2013.
Strengths: He has very good instincts and diagnoses plays quickly. … Is good in space and decisively jumps short routes. … Will have trouble if blockers get out on him, but his quick feet and reads allow him to beat blockers to the punch on most occasions. … Smith is a playmaker, who could project to strong safety as well. … Has ability to star on special teams.
Weaknesses: Very light for a linebacker. … Not a powerful tackler. … Will need to put on muscle without losing his quickness and speed if he wants to be anything other than a sub-package linebacker. … Runs around blocks and gets pushed around when he’s engaged. … Can take better angles to the ball and overruns plays too often.
Conclusion: Undersized linebacker who could fit as a weak side linebacker in the right 4-3 scheme, or possibly a sub-package backer. Watching tape of him it’s easy to see that he really is better against a finesse team. He was all over the field against Clemson and struggled at times against Auburn’s power running attack. … An instinctual player like Smith will find his way onto the field in some fashion. … Should be core special-teamer early in his career. … A creative defensive mind will be able to find a role for such a talented, instinctive playmaker.
NFL comparison: Kam Chancellor.
Draft projection: Third-fourth rounder.
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