Terrance Smith

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-7, 290 lbs. Taller than 86% and heavier than 49% of 2027 Offensive Tackle prospects in the SEC Scouts database (37 with a listed size).

Play Style

An athletic, finesse-first tackle who wins with feet and range more than brute force. In pass protection he sets quickly and mirrors well, using his length and recovery speed to fix a lost first step. That fits the picture of a former hoops player with top-tier testing. In the run game he looks best as a zone and move blocker, working to the second level, reaching and sealing, and pulling, where 247 highlights his lower-body flexibility. His defensive snaps (4 sacks as a sophomore) suggest a competitive streak and a feel for leverage. The main limit on film is play strength, because he doesn't yet move defenders off the ball consistently. Returning from a knee injury also makes the 2025 tape less reliable for judging him.

Strengths

• Elite movement skills for his size. His testing numbers rank near the top of the 2027 class, so he can mirror speed rushers and get out in space on screens and pulls.
• Pass-protection feet and reactions shaped by basketball. His HS coach specifically praised his 'good feet' and 'good reactions,' which should help him stay square against edge rushers and handle stunts.
• Two-way experience. As a sophomore in 2024 he started on the offensive line and also posted 15 tackles and 4 sacks on the defensive line, so he knows how defensive linemen attack blockers.
• Length and frame to stay at tackle. At 6-6½ to 6-7 with long arms he fits the long-term tackle profile, and 247 notes he has played both tackle spots.
• Explosive lower half, shown by his throwing results in shot put and discus. That hip power should turn into drive-blocking strength as he adds mass.

Areas to Improve

• Play strength and anchor. The ACL surgery (after his 2024 season) cost him most of an offseason in the weight room, and he has to hold up against 300-pound SEC bull rushers. He'll need a full college strength program before he's ready to play.
• Game reps and polish. He missed the early part of his 2025 junior season and only came back for the playoff run, so his film on technique (hand placement, punch timing, pad level in the run game) is thinner than most prospects of his ranking.
• Consistent pad level and finishing in the run game. Tall, high-cut linemen who come from basketball tend to play upright, and he'll need to sink his hips and play with more power at the point of attack.

College Projection

Plan on a redshirt or developmental year in 2027 (practice reps plus possible limited snaps under the four-game rule) while he adds weight and strength. After that he projects as a tackle, most likely blindside, who can compete for a starting job in 2028 or 2029. By 2029 he should be around 310-315 pounds. If the strength gains come quickly, he could become the multi-year starter 247 projects for a playoff-contending program. If his post-ACL strength lags, his length and athleticism still make him a valuable swing tackle while he develops.

NFL Outlook

He has real NFL tools: height, length, top-of-class athleticism for his size and a frame that can carry 310+ pounds. Those traits are exactly what NFL teams look for in tackles, and 247 describes him as having 'legitimate NFL tools.' If he adds functional strength and turns in two-plus productive seasons as a starter at LSU, he could be a Day 2 prospect with Day 1 upside, and possibly a first-round tackle if his play strength catches up to his movement skills. The biggest risks are the knee and whether he can build an NFL-level anchor.

Best Fit

A program with a proven strength and conditioning staff and a patient offensive-line coach that runs zone-heavy or wide-zone concepts. Those schemes reward his feet, range and ability to move, while the redshirt year gives his body time to catch up. LSU fits well: it can redshirt him, it has an SEC-caliber strength program, and it runs a pass-heavy offense that needs athletic tackles who can protect in space. A power/gap scheme would demand more strength from him earlier in his career.