NFL Draft: A scout's take on Notre Dame's Harrison Smith

On Wednesday, I asked an NFL scout about Notre Dame’s Harrison Smith. A prospect that stood out from my perspective at the Senior Bowl back in January. The safety has good tape, size (6-2, 212) and posted a 40 time in the mid 4.5s at the combine in Indianapolis.

ICONNotre Dame safety Harrison Smith.

Here’s what he had to say on the Notre Dame product:

- Smart/instinctive (thought he would run in the 4.4s based on the tape)

- Can get off the hash/ play the middle of the field

- Hands? Would be a Top 15 pick if he finished plays

- Great anticipation

- Good range

- Will get “leggy” at times in his pedal/high-cut athlete

- Should play 10-12 years in the league

- Early to mid 2nd round pick

And the No.1 thing we both agreed: the stopwatch time. A mid 4.5? That’s good enough when you grade a player that understands route concepts, splits, WR stems and angles to put himself in a position to make a play.

Alabama’s Mark Barron is projected to be the first safety off the board next month in the draft, but look for Smith to be close behind. And considering the demand for the position vs. today's spread offenses and TEs, we could see a run on safeties earlier than expected.

Click here to see the NFP Big Board.

Follow me on Twitter: @MattBowen41