Ito Smith, RB, Southern Mississippi: 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Along with his skills as a runner, Ito Smith offers upside as a receiver and has quite the nose for the end zone.
Ito Smith may not be one of the big name backs in this draft but he’s shown he has talent. He’s racked up three straight 1,000+ yard seasons at Southern Miss.
His averages on the ground and through the air are also quite respectable. Smith averaged 5.7 yards per tote and 9.9 yards per reception. He also managed 15 total touchdowns, two through the air and the rest on the ground.
Measurables/Bio
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 195 lbs
Position: RB
High School: McGill-Toolen Catholic
College: Southern Mississippi
Strengths
Smith is a great pass catcher. Once he gets the ball out wide, he’s a tough customer to bring down and is dangerous in the open field.
He is also a great blocker. Not only can he keep some heat off the quarterback, he runs downfield to throw blocks if he is in the vicinity, as shown a few plays into the above video clip.
If a running lane doesn’t reveal itself immediately, Smith has the patience to let one develop. Also, he has the raw strength to get a few yards where there isn’t really any room to run. When he is handed the football, he finds a way to go upfield, as he rarely is sent backwards.
Weaknesses
For some reason, he runs between the tackles with one hand on the ball. He has to learn to protect the football when finding lanes between the trees if he intends on keeping the football.
His size is an obvious disadvantage. He stands well below six feet (5’9”) and doesn’t even tip 200 pounds on the scales. Putting on some extra bulk could serve him well.
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Final Thoughts
Smith is a nice overall prospect but at the end of the day, keeping a hand off of the ball in the trenches discounts his abilities.
With so many intriguing running back prospects in one of the most loaded classes ever at the position, Smith will likely find himself in the later rounds of the draft. He might even end up as an undrafted free agent hoping to be signed to a contract this summer.