Personal Background

Attended Macon County High School in Montezuma, Georgia

Academic All American

Originally committed to UCLA, then two days later changed to Georgia after UCLA’s linebackers coach jumped to the NFL

Athletic Background

High school

ESPN.com four-star prospect

247Sports.com four-star prospect

Rivals.com four-star prospect

College

2017 Associated Press All-America First Team

2017 Walter Camp All-America First Team

2017 American Football Coaches Association All-America First Team

2017 Football Writers Association of America All-America First Team

2017 The Sporting News All-America First Team

2017 Phil Steele All-America First Team

2017 Butkus Award Winner

2017 AP SEC Defensive Player of the Year

2017 Coaches’ SEC Defensive Player of the Year

2017 Coaches’ & AP All-SEC 1st Team

Injury history

2017 Torn pectoral muscle



Production

38 FBS Games

Pro Football Reference 146 solo tackles 252 total tackles 20.5 tackles for loss 6.5 QB sacks 3 pass deflections 3 fumbles forced 3 fumbles recovered

Pro Football Focus 13% Run stop percentage (6th) 37.8 Pass rush productivity (5th) 26.8 Tackling efficiency (5th) 0.56 Yards per cover/snap (36th) 9.6 Cover snaps/target (71st) 4.81 Yards/tackle (71st)



Film Reviewed

Alabama

Auburn

Missouri

Notre Dame

Oklahoma

Tennessee

Measurables

Year: Senior

Height: 6′ 7/8″

Weight: 236 pounds

Official 40 time: 4.51

Strengths

Well-proportioned, angular linebacker with top-tier athleticism Very good speed, lateral agility, quickness and explosiveness, on the fringe of elite across the board

As consistent of a playmaker as they come

Very good mental toughness, no moment too big Forces fourth down on several occasions thanks to film study and play recognition

Tracking the ball

The best mental processing skills in this class

Calls out plays before they occur

Consistently takes the proper angles to the ball with his ‘hunt’ drive in full force, along with the ability to consistently make tackles in the open field

Immediately leverages his gap



Leads with hands



RARELY fooled by misdirection, eye candy, or split flow



Avoids traffic and over-the-top scooping offensive linemen on outside runs due to quick recognition and speed



Sticks to his keys, quickly diagnoses gap runs, stays tight to the double team, inserts into the running back’s entry point before pulling offensive linemen



Does not hesitate to insert into gaps on duo run calls, has the speed to chase down the running back as he attempts to bounce it

Elite recognition of screens and draws Beats offensive linemen to the set up spot and makes the tackle

Very good at pattern matching Able to recognize route concepts, possesses the speed stay in phase with WR routes in Cover 3 match

Speed and change of direction to match up with running backs in man coverage Sideline-to-sideline speed to match running backs wide on flare routes or wheel routes

Displays the discipline and elite zone eyes in zone coverage, can spot drop or match receivers, reads the QB and explodes towards the intended receiver

Sonar-like awareness on threats entering his zone, understanding the the overlap area between zones, and knows when to peel off receiver and pass on threat to neighboring defender

Supports in coverage on underneath routes when teammates are in trail mode vs. crossing routes

As a pass rusher: Perfect timing on green dog blitzes Utilizes burst and speed to attack passers Short area burst and change of direction make him a difficult block for running backs, able to avoid cuts



Weaknesses

Height and weight are well below average

Not a linebacker that you want playing the bubble often, unless protected by good defensive tackles

Tackling grip can lose effectiveness the faster he is running and versus stronger backs when in chase mode

Does not cover much ground in back pedal when dropping in zone coverage If not stacked, can stick to blocks by linemen, lose ground

When isolated vs. WR, at times peeks at the top of the route, creating just enough separation for the receiver

Will struggle to deter passes into the intermediate/fringe deep area of the field due to lack of height and length, especially versus confident, accurate passers

Overall

Roquan Smith is a top-five player in this draft. He has all of the physical and mental tools that you look for in a linebacker. His processing skills are elite, has the athleticism to follow through on the quick diagnosis of plays, and the finishing trait that is needed at the NFL level. When you look at his film you do not need to dig deep to know that he is always in the film room, studying his opponents’ plays and tendencies. Not a game goes by in which you don’t see him calling out the plays.

He may be a little short and light in the back end, but he is today’s linebacker: twitched up and fluid, with the ability to run with most skilled players wearing a different color jersey. If the team that drafts him is a base 4-3 front, has a strong run-defending defensive line, and is able to consistently keep him clean to cause disruption in the run game and the freedom to patrol the middle of the field, he will be a Pro Bowler sooner than later.

Smith grades out as 5.5, a high first round grade, and I expect him to be a difference maker from day one.

Film:

Incredible pursuit and range from the far hash from Roquan. pic.twitter.com/zhdlLtJk7J — Cover 1 (@Cover_1_) December 29, 2017

Sideline-to-sideline speed

The ability to avoid blocks, and speed and angles to make up ground.

We all know he is athletic, but @RoquanSmith1 has a physical side too!! pic.twitter.com/jtWO6QD76H — Cover 1 (@Cover_1_) March 19, 2018

Smith runs step-for-step with the running back, leveraging the ball perfectly, senses the cutback just as easily as the running back does.

Incredible mental toughness; 3rd down and short, and Smith ends the play with a little chin music short of the sticks.

Question is, will he have to trade up to get the QB THEY want? Also, will Roquan still be on the board at 12??

😃 pic.twitter.com/uV8o62xwdq — Cover 1 (@Cover_1_) March 16, 2018

Think Roquan watches film? Dude is just calling out plays. #Bulldogs pic.twitter.com/O1sixQoeSM — Cover 1 (@Cover_1_) December 22, 2017

Puts his many hours of film study to work.

He may not be the biggest linebacker, but he has no trouble tracking the ball.

The #Bulldogs send Roquan on the blitz but he feels the RB flaring out so he takes it away and it leads to a sack. Incredible display of play speed. pic.twitter.com/JIW4TmBIVH — Cover 1 (@Cover_1_) December 22, 2017

Smith takes great angles to the ball. Man coverage vs. the running back, closes the gap and finishes.

The Bulldogs are in what appears to be Cover 3 match, very similar to how the Seahawks play it. As the #3 WR gets vertical, Smith must turn the zone coverage into man. He flips his hips and runs with the WR.

Finds threats coming into his zone, takes them away as options, then passes them on to teammates. Leads to a sack.

Setting the defense, then finds the threat and shuts him down.

Good timing on the blitz, works through the running back and registers a sack.

The defensive structure doesn’t keep Smith clean and he is unable to disengage.

_______________________________________________________________

We have you covered off the field too at Cover 1 | The Shop

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Subscribe to the Cover 1 | Buffalo Podcast on iTunes

Subscribe to the Cover 1 | Buffalo Podcast on Google Play

Subscribe to the Cover 1 | NFL Draft Podcast on iTunes

Subscribe to the Cover 1 | NFL Draft Podcast on Google Play

Become a Premium Member Today!

Exclusive members-only content

Sneak peek at content

In-depth analysis, including scheme, play and player breakdowns

Scouting reports and advanced analytics analysis

Access on unlimited devices

And More!

_______________________________________________________________

Affiliate Sponsors