(99%*), 128 (C) On passing downs, he times up the snap well and has good acceleration off the ball to win with speed. Moreover, Smith can violently rip down opposing anchors after assuming control. Schematically, Smith's weight might be an issue for an even-front team that's looking for a more traditional, hand-in-the-ground defensive end. 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. Banks (6-foot, 197 pounds) earned one of the top NGS athleticism scores (98) among prospects to . Smith had seven tackles for a loss and three sacks over eight games in his final collegiate season. As a true junior, Smith enjoyed success alongside Travon Walker, Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt, and others, putting up 53 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles in 14 starts. April 27, 2023 / 11:45 PM / CBS Philadelphia. Sign up to receive all the latest news and annoucements. Smith became the starting OLB/EDGE for the Bulldogs in 2021. Sign up for the The Draft Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. One area of his game that could improve is his overall strength and turning speed to power in his rush. Could afford to add some weight to help him hold ground against base blocks from the bigger and elite NFL offensive tackles. One year after a historic 2022 NFL Draft class, the Georgia Bulldogs are once again poised to dominate Round 1, and standout EDGE Nolan Smith is a crucial part of that development. Not very effective in line games as the looper or penetrator. Good bend to turn a tight corner and take an efficient path to the quarterback after winning around the edge. 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. 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. He has an explosive first step and can surge downhill into blockers, leveraging his burst into power. Smith is a former five-star recruit and finalist for the Anthony Munoz Lineman of the Year award as a senior. 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. 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. Nolan Smith is a 6-3, 232-pound Weak-Side Defensive End from Savannah, GA. . Becoming more technical with his hands to deconstruct and shed blocks can unlock his full potential at the next level. His stance can be more efficient, and he hesitates at times. Luke Stampini Recruiting . Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Hes dynamic, well-built, and he interviews well. Lions 2023 NFL draft profile: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech. The Georgia native shows good change of direction and first-step quickness." The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. Smith has admirable flexibility where he can bend around the edges or slice across the blocker to win the inside track. Nolan Smith is an edge rusher who lacks the bulk to hold up blockers or walk them back. (93%*), 4.39 (C) He will need to get with coaches and seriously develop better ways to attack the pocket and gain counters that he currently lacks. With Marcus Davenport becoming a pending free agent and a lacking pass rush from, the . That being said, he does have good athleticism to flush that part of his game out. 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. Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com. While Smiths arsenal is still in progress, he can effectively build off lateral bursts with quick swipes. On passing downs, he times up the snap well and has good acceleration off the ball to win with speed. All Rights Reserved. Smith could emerge as a more impactful pass rusher in the same position James Houston currently occupies. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). While he did not blow up the stat sheet by any means, he was a key contributor to the dominant back-to-back national champion Georgia defense despite missing the conclusion of the 2022 season with a torn pec. Gambling Problem? Smith doesnt have a full set of moves and counters to employ consistently. 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. 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. With his mobility, the Georgia EDGE can be a nightmare for space runners in pursuit. Smarts Bulldogs staff relentlessly recruited the nations top talent for years. 26) and safety Christopher Smith (No. Yet another talented edge rusher from the elite Georgia defense, Nolan Smith will look to prove he is as good as the other Bulldog defenders drafted before him. The silver lining for Smith is this: Hes already an excellent run defender. Smith was arguably their greatest addition. He gets extension against offensive linemen pretty easily and will occasionally have them falling on their faces with how violent he is when shedding. Needs to be more consistent with the accuracy of his hand swipes when starting pass-rush moves. The Georgia EDGE has the tools to be dynamic in that phase. By Tony Pauline April 19, 2023 Nolan Smith arrived at Georgia as one of the top recruits in the country in 2019 and played immediately as a pass-rush specialist. Smith is viewed in high regard by his teammates and coaches as a dynamic leader in the locker room. Good bend to turn a tight corner and take an efficient path to the quarterback after winning around the edge. He brings a level of energy that is not easily replicated. Nolan Smith stole the show at the NFL Combineas he put up shocking number after shocking number. Georgia edge rusher Nolan Smith is one of the top prospects, regardless of position, as the college football season progresses and we look ahead to the 2023 NFL Draft. 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. (with WWEs Corey Graves). The Georgia product does have a few traits and moves in his pass-rush arsenal that he can win with on passing downs, though. 13), offensive tackle Broderick Jones (No. This not only puts a cap on his maximum power generation output but also makes him easy to outreach and can cause attempted counters to fail. Impact upper tier Power 5 starter and No. As his testing numbers at the NFL Combine exemplify, Smith is a tremendous athlete. No. However, recovering from a torn pec might scare some of these teams off. However, recovering from a torn pec might scare some of these teams off. Smith is viewed in high regard by his teammates and coaches as a dynamic leader in the locker room. And his non-elite length is a limitation thats here to stay. 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. 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. Nolan Smith from IMG Academy High School was rated a 5-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 5-star grade by 247 Sports. | Franklin, Scouting report on Eagles 1st round pick Jalen Carter. By Tom Ignudo. Among other things, Smith sometimes pops up too upright as a pass rusher. Lacks pop due to his smaller size to anchor, though. Nolan Smith RAS Strengths Smith's best attribute is his raw athleticism and speed off of the line. 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. We break down Georgia linebacker Nolan Smith with a scouting report heading into the 2023 NFL Draft. He has trouble stacking counters with his initial plan, and he doesnt have the kind of raw power to generate imbalance repeatedly. He'd often cover grass in zone coverage and would struggle to stay in phase versus tight ends in man. He will make his impact felt as a run defender and earn his keep, as. 1 WDE, per 247Sports composite rating. Smith is lean, a bit undersized, and lacks elite length. He is explosive, agile, and a DAWG, and therefore he is a menace when he is at his best. Smith will always try to plow into the largest piles and has a good knack of ending up glued to the ballcarrier. 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. The Georgia product does have a few traits and moves in his pass-rush arsenal that he can win with on passing downs, though. 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). Add him to yourbig boardhere. He has a very accurate. Can attack the edge with speed and has the flexibility to dip low and under the tackle's reach. 19), tight end Darnell Washington (No. Georgia Bulldogs Football Nolan Smith NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Georgia Edge BR NFL Scouting Department Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images HEIGHT: 6'2" WEIGHT: 238 HAND:. Nolan Smith is an emotional leader on and off the field for the Georgia Bulldogs. He could afford to push vertical more on the tackle to help sell the game. And it all started to come together for him over the last two seasons at Georgia after grading below 70.0 in each of his first two college seasons, he earned overall grades of 85.0 (2021) and 83.7 (2022) to finish his career. (57%*), 81 His power rushes can be easily absorbed and neutralized by stronger blockers. DO YOUR OWN 2024 MOCK DRAFT BY CLICKING HERE (or clicking Start A Mock Draft from your account page). He approaches every play with a you cant block me mentality and I love it. Form tackler, good pad level, wraps up and runs his feet through contact. 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. 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. 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. Hes very effective when the tackle opens his chest. https://draftwire.usatoday.com/lists/2023-nfl-draft-nolan-smith-scouting-report/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. He shows . 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. 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. Here is everything you need to know about the ultra-athletic Bulldogs defender. However, he's certainly a run-first player, which has a distinct impact on his get-off in rushing situations. Interestingly, run defense is where Smiths traits translate best or at least most consistently. Despite being an impressive elite athlete - his production as a pass rusher has only been decent. He can also be lethal when slanting with how quick and agile he is to throw off blockers' angels and get penetration. Neither do we. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Draft Network. He does not have a wide pass-rushing toolbox, but he makes up for that with the ability to overwhelm with pure speed, strength, and flexibility. Scheme Fit: Attacking/slanting assignments in an odd front, TDN Consensus Grade: 81.00/100 (Second-Round Value), Exposures: Oregon (2022), South Carolina (2022), Auburn (2022), Missouri (2022). Copyright 2019-2023. Height: 6-foot-2. In the right scheme and role, he could be a true defensive catalyst with more time to grow. Author: The NFL Draft Bible. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. PFNs FREE Mock Draft Simulator (With Trades). The defensive standout projects as an early round selection. Nolan Smith arrived at Georgia as one of the top recruits in the country in 2019 and played immediately as a pass-rush specialist. But his athletic traits lend him impressive pass-rushing upside as well. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & resort (KS). Has an excellent skip move to win around the edge. Relative Athletic Score places him with a 9.24 composite out of 10 thanks to remarkable times in the 40-yard dash (4.39 seconds), vertical leap (41.5 inches), and broad jump (10-foot-8). While the Georgia EDGE has immense untapped potential, he also has visible room for improvement there.