On pure athleticism alone, Brandon Smith is a standout.
Running a fast 4.52-second 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine heading into the 2022 NFL Draft, the Penn State linebacker also posted a 1.59 second 10-yard split, 37.5-inch vertical and a 10-foot, 8-inch broad jump.
Those testing results along with an 81-tackle, two-sack 2021 campaign for the Nittany Lions resulted in the Carolina Panthers trading up to snag the 6-foot-3 and 250-pound Smith in the fourth round with the 120th overall pick in the 2022 draft.
But being big and fast can get you only so far.