Telvin Smith
Florida State, WLB/SS
Height: 6.3
Weight: 218
40yd: 4.52
Age: 23
|
Stats |
||||||
|
Year |
G |
Tak |
TFL |
Sak |
PBU |
INT |
|
2010 |
14 |
18 |
1.5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
2011 |
12 |
42 |
8.5 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
|
2012 |
14 |
64 |
9.5 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
|
2013 |
14 |
90 |
9.5 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
Athleticism: A+
Has the athleticism of a high-end safety. Lightning fast mover who can get behind the line of scrimmage in the blink of an eye. Explosive moving forward and routinely one of the fastest players moving on the field. Has very good range to get to the sideline without taking wide angles.
Power: F
Lacks the strength to take on blocks and struggles to disengage. Is pinballed and easily neutralized. Is not a finesse player, however, and will play inside. Plays bigger than his size indicates, which is not much. Lacks the size of even some safeties and corners. Will pursue too hard at times and overrun the ballcarrier. Can shoot gaps and is able to make plays behind the line of scrimmage with sheer speed and can be a “plus” run defender.
Technique: D+
Decent form tackler, but lacks strength in his arms to bring ballcarriers to the ground. Most reliable when tackling below the waist where he can trip up runners but is a gamble. Had trouble even bringing down Clemson running back Roderick McDowell one-on-one, but was able to make the second effort tackle, to his credit. Can get some pop on contact, but is not a striker.
Third-Down: A-
Possesses all the tools to be an elite cover linebacker, and could be developed into a safety. Gets his hands on receivers near the line of scrimmage and adds a physical element to his athletic ability. Has room to improve his eyes in coverage. Is not a pure pass rusher, but is very effective when schemed free as a blitzer. Burst and instincts allow him to explode at the snap of the football and can get into the backfield before linemen can even react. Does not play with power, and only has one chance to get pressure off the snap.
Intangibles: A-
Gives very good effort, and has the instincts and anticipation to match. Was a contributor for the Seminoles since his freshman season. Has been very durable, especially considering his size. Has excellent football character. Clear leader on and off the field. Can be an impact player on special teams.
Red Flags: Size, Long-Term Durability, Tweener
Bottom Line: While he has obvious holes in his game, Smith is an overlooked player given his size playing his current position, but best football could be ahead of him with a transition to safety. Could remain at linebacker, but only chance to be a starter would be in a Cover 2 defense. Has all the traits of a player who can make it, and will be a day one player on special teams.
Comparison: Wesley Woodyard/Michael Boulware
Grade: 8.0 (3rd Round)
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