Terrance Smith, OLB, Florida State: 2016 NFL Scouting Report
By Jeff Olson
It’s no secret that Florida State has become one of the powerhouse programs in college football. They won a national championship a few years ago and have developed guys who have gone on to find great success in the NFL early in their careers.
Considering how high profile the Seminoles are right now, and thus all of their players are a little more high profile, it makes me wonder why a talented player like Terrance Smith isn’t getting more hype as we near closer to the NFL draft.
Combine Results
40 yard dash: 4.77
Bench press: 19 reps
Vertical jump: 34.5 inches
Broad jump: 120.0 inches
Strengths
Smith has great sideline to sideline range. His straight line speed and quick acceleration allow him to be the kind of guy who is always around the ball. More than just fast, Smith looks smooth and agile. He makes the game look easy with how naturally he moves on the field. In terms of his ability to run and move, Smith is NFL caliber.
For a “small” linebacker, Smith has good length. He is 6’3 and has 33 inch arms. This tells me that he could get a little bigger and stronger. With added strength Smith can use his length to become an even better tackler. This is a trait that will also help him as a pass defender.
Smith was a three year starter at Florida State. He played middle linebacker in 2013 and moved to the outside in 2014 where he played two years. He has all the experience and versatility you could realistically hope for in a linebacker prospect.
For what it’s worth, Smith has great football bloodlines. He is the cousin of Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and his father Terry Smith played was a receiver at Clemson during his college days. While this obviously doesn’t mean anything for Terrance, it’s good to have an insight into what it takes to play in the NFL.
Weaknesses
Smith isn’t a great tackler. He lacks the ideal strengths to wrap up and take ball carriers to the ground. It also means that blockers will be able to run right over him in the NFL, even though he is not afraid to take on the bigger guys when defending the run.
Smith has a lean frame and a narrow build. At only 235 lbs, he’s pretty small considering how tall he is. Due to his small frame he might not be able to get much bigger. This means he may never become a dependable tackler or the run defender that who’d want him to be with his excellent range.
Smith is a fairly injury prone player, in part due to his smaller bulk. He took a medical redshirt as a freshman and missed a pair of games in 2014 with a neck injury. He also missed four games last year with a lingering ankle issue.
Overview
Smith has the ability to move with the best in this class. His range, his acceleration, and his agility make him an exciting prospect. However, he needs to get stronger to help him finish tackles more consistently and be more durable.
If he can add 5-10 lbs of muscle, Smith could be a starter at the next level. Except him to me drafted somewhere around the fifth round and be a quality depth player with upside who brings value to a special teams unit.