Jared Smith
Bio
Recruiting
Scouting Report
Jared Smith is a massive, powerful interior offensive line prospect with a mauler's mentality. His sheer size and functional strength make him a dominant force in gap and power running schemes, as evidenced by his MVP performance at the Under Armour Next camp in Atlanta. While he possesses the raw tools to be a multi-year starter at the Power Four level, he will require technical refinement and physical development upon arriving at college.
Physical Profile
Smith possesses a massive frame, listed at 6-foot-5 and weighing between 320 and 340 pounds. This size is complemented by an exceptional, near 6-foot-10 wingspan, giving him a significant advantage in terms of reach and control at the point of attack. He is a powerful athlete who also participates in track and field as a regional qualifier in the shot put and discus. While he plays left tackle for his high school team, his build and skill set project best to an interior guard position in college.
Play Style
Smith is a true mauler on the offensive line. He plays with an aggressive, physical demeanor and seeks to dominate his assignments. On film, he is most effective on front-side blocks in the run game, where he uses his mass and powerful punch to wash defenders down the line of scrimmage. He shows patience in pass protection and uses his long arms to create separation, though his technique is still developing. His success and OL MVP award at the Under Armour camp demonstrate his ability to perform against elite competition.
Strengths
- Overwhelming power and mass at the point of attack; excels at moving defenders off the ball in gap-scheme concepts and generating vertical displacement.
- Strong initial punch and hand placement, allowing him to engulf and control defenders once engaged.
- Tone-setting temperament and a finisher's mentality, consistently looking to drive opponents into the ground and play through the whistle.
- Surprisingly nimble in short areas for his size, showing patience in his pass sets and the ability to hold his own against interior pass rushers in one-on-one situations.
Areas to Improve
- Tends to be a waist-bender rather than bending at the knees, which can lead to balance issues against defenders with good leverage.
- While effective against interior rushers, pure speed off the edge can present a challenge, further supporting the projection to an interior guard position.
- Will need a year or two in a college strength and conditioning program to reshape his frame and improve overall conditioning before being ready for significant playing time.
College Projection
Smith projects as a potential multi-year starter at the Power Four level. He is likely a redshirt candidate for his first year on campus to allow for physical and technical development. By his second or third year, he has the potential to become a reliable starting guard, particularly in an offensive system that emphasizes a power-running game. His commitment to Rutgers provides an opportunity to be a foundational piece for their offensive line in the future.
Best Fit
A pro-style or multiple-set offense that heavily utilizes gap and inside/duo running schemes would be the ideal fit. This would allow him to maximize his strengths as a powerful, downhill run blocker. A program with a strong reputation for offensive line development can help refine his pass-blocking technique to match his elite run-blocking potential.
Player Comparison
Smith was a highly-rated 4-star prospect at 6'5" 335 lbs who excelled as an interior offensive lineman with exceptional size and athleticism for his frame. Like this prospect, he had strong recruiting metrics and the physical tools to dominate at multiple positions along the offensive line, eventually becoming a standout guard in both college and the NFL despite some injury concerns that may have limited his initial draft stock.