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Ryan Smith, CB
School: NC Central University | Conference: MEAC
College Experience: Senior | Age: 22
Height / Weight: 5-11 / 189 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 4th-6th Round
NFL Comparison: Orlando Scandrick
College Statistics
| TACKLES | GP | UA | A | Total | TFL | TFLY | PD | FF | FR | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 11 | 35 | 30 | 65 | 2.5 | 21 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2013 | 12 | 51 | 37 | 88 | 1.5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 2014 | 12 | 44 | 14 | 58 | 1.5 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2015 | 10 | 38 | 14 | 52 | 1.5 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 45 | 168 | 95 | 263 | 7.0 | 30 | 31 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| KICK RETURNS | GP | NO | Yards | TD | Long | Avg/R | Avg/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 2013 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 2014 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 | 10 | 14 | 394 | 1 | 95 | 28.1 | 39.4 |
| Total | 45 | 14 | 394 | 1 | 95 | 28.1 | 8.8 |
| INTERCEPTIONS | GP | NO | Yards | TD | Long | Avg/R | Avg/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 11 | 3 | 46 | 0 | 27 | 15.3 | 4.2 |
| 2013 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.1 |
| 2014 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 | 10 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 11 | 8.0 | 1.6 |
| Total | 45 | 7 | 63 | 0 | 27 | 9.0 | 1.4 |
Player Overview
Ryan Smith went to school at my Alma Mater, making him probably the best draft prospect in 2016. That's just a fact. Not only does Smith have ties to Durham, NC, he should feel right at home playing for the Redskins, being from Upper Marlboro, MD.
NC Central University was the only school to offer Smith even a partial scholarship, according to the Charlotte Observer. During his time in Durham he was a 4-time All-MEAC selection. Now Smith is predicted by prognosticators to be drafted somewhere between day 2 and 3 of the NFL Draft.
Smith has the speed to run with NFL receivers, but may need a year or two of seasoning to adjust to the competition gap between the MEAC and the NFL.
Most think that Smith's role in the NFL will be to cover slot receivers, as he doesn't have the weight yet to match up with some of the NFL's bigger number one receivers.
Strengths
- Fast, ran a 4.47 forty at the NFL Combine.
- Maximum effort player.
- Seemed to step up his game against better competition, had splash plays against Duke when they played in their annual match-up.
- Good at breaking on the ball when it's in the air.
- Gets head and hips turned around to defend passes downfield.
Weaknesses
- A bit on the small side for an NFL corner, will likely need to add some weight.
- Better zone defender than man-on-man.
.@NCCU_Football CB Ryan Smith says he's already taken visits to @Raiders, @Steelers, @MiamiDolphins, @TBBuccaneers & @Vikings, @SiriusXMNFL
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) April 19, 2016
Anonymous Scout "NCCU Ryan Smith href="https://twitter.com/OhLawwwdy">@OhLawwwdy can play man & zone. Also he's not scheme dependent which is huge on draft day." #NFLDraft2016
— Travis Martz (@BusinessArena) April 22, 2016
Ryan Smith ranked as the #6 small-school prospect in the upcoming 2016 NFL Draft by https://t.co/WGmnUqaTgw pic.twitter.com/kB2nFiKIo4
— NCCU Football (@NCCU_Football) April 2, 2016
Combine Results
40-Yard Dash: 4.47
Bench Press: 18 Reps
Vertical: 36"
3-Cone Drill: 3.88
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.09
How He Would Fit on the Redskins
With the Redskins suddenly kind of stacked at corner, Smith would have to make the team on special teams and in the slot. He won't push Josh Norman,Bashaud Breeland or a healthy Chris Culliver out of a starting job, but he could compete with Dunbar and Blackmon for the 4th-5th spot. With McCloughan's history of getting mid and late-round defensive back gems, maybe Smith will be the next surprise.
The Redskins can always use a good developmental DB...that's always a fit.