Kentucky DE Za’Darius Smith NFL Draft Scouting Report
By Erik Lambert
Alvin Dupree was the main man for the Kentucky defense in 2014 but it wasn’t like he didn’t have help. Za’Darius Smith was on that front too and made his fair share of plays for the team. So heading into the 2015 NFL draft, here is a brief scouting report on the young prospect and where he sits heading into the pros.
STRENGTHS
- Has that size defensive line coaches fall in love with.
- When he uses his great length and keeps driving his legs, he can apply pressure.
- Attacks the football when he knows where it is
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WEAKNESSES
- Doesn’t play with good strength or leverage.
- Lacks any sort of speed or burst as a pass rusher.
- Too often was controlled by single blockers.
- Consistently the last guy off the snap.
- Doesn’t play with a great motor; seems to quit if it goes away from him or if he ends up on the ground.
- Good offensive linemen will blow him off the ball in the run game.
Pro Comparison: Cornelius Washington
He lacks the bulk and strength to set the edge like a 3-4 defensive end but also doesn’t have the burst of a true edge rusher. That being said, like Washington, Za’Darius Smith has some intriguing athletic traits that if nurtured can yield some solid results. His best fit in the NFL draft would probably be a 4-3 scheme since he prefers to play with his hand in the dirt.