Way back on draft day last April – Day 3, to be exact – and a ways into the sixth round, Tanzel Smart got a call from the Rams telling him he was on his way to Los Angeles to play defensive tackle.

Not long after, the Tulane University standout said it meant the world to him that he’d soon be playing alongside Aaron Donald and Robert Quinn, a pair of Rams players he’d been admiring from afar.

Turns out he was half correct – at least for the moment.

The 6-foot-1, 296-pounder is listed on the Rams depth chart as the starting defensive tackle for Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts at the Coliseum. And while he’ll be playing alongside outside linebacker Quinn, he’s actually replacing the All-Pro Donald, who remains AWOL from the club in a contract dispute.

It’s a dream come true for the 21-year-old Louisiana native, and actually quite the surprise.

In fact, when he was asked about actually starting his first NFL game as a rookie, Smart seemed a bit taken aback.

“I don’t know man,” he said. “I don’t know if I’m starting just yet.”

When someone informed him he was listed at the top of the dept chart at defensive tackle, he just sort of smiled.

“Oh, I didn’t know that,” he said. “I really didn’t know.”

If so, let’s just say it’ll complete a dream he’s had nearly his whole life.

“I’ve dreamed this way, way, way back in elementary school,” he said. “So it’s a blessing.”

Regardless of whether Smart takes the field as a starter, he’s expected to play a significant role as Donald’s replacement — presuming Donald doesn’t end his holdout and take the field Sunday, a concept Coach Sean McVay isn’t quite ready to rule out.

Donald wasn’t with the club Wednesday when it began its first official practice in preparation for the Colts, and according to reports he remains on the East Coast, not in California.

Still, McVay continues to hold out hope.

“No, I wouldn’t rule him out,” McVay said. “We’re still in the same place. I know I kind of sound monotonous where, ‘Hey we’re trying to find a solution’, which is exactly the truth. There’s no update right now.”

Reality is, it’s looking like a longshot the Rams and Donald get things sewn up in time for him to play Sunday. The next man up, then, is Smart, who impressed McVay and his staff while steadily getting better throughout training camp and the preseason.

“I think Tanzel is one of those players that he’s a natural fit for anything, because all he does is exactly what you want him to do and he continues to get better every single day,” McVay said, crediting the work done by defensive line coach Bill Johnson, defensive quality control coach Thad Bogardus and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.

“.. Everybody wants to probably make a point about that he’s short, but he seems to be a guy who tips the ball as much as anybody. You feel him as an offensive coach, can’t say enough about how pleased we’ve been with what Tanzel’s done.”

DEFENSE MOSTLY INTACT

The Rams made a point to preserve their veteran defensive players during training camp and the preseason, which is why Quinn, Mark Barron, Connor Barwin, and some others got consistent days off and, in some cases, didn’t dress for the four preseason games.

On Wednesday, the whole unit was intact – aside from Donald of course – and it showed.

“It looks good. I mean, guys had a great energy, great enthusiasm, they flew around,” McVay said. “Great communication on the back end with some of the formation adjustments that we think their offense will require us to do. I think it was a good start to the week. We know we’re taking it one day at a time right now, but I think in terms of starting off the week (the way) that we wanted to as a team, it was a positive step in the right direction for us.”

Quinn, who has battled injury problems the last two years, appreciates McVay looking out for him by limiting his reps and games during camp and said it’s led to a healthy body heading into the regular season.

“I feel fine. Ready to get the ball rolling,” Quinn said. “Thanks to coach and them for taking care of me to get healthy. Now just ready to get the ball rolling. It’s about time.”