Pat: Smith comes from one of the best programs in Pennsylvania, St. Joe’s Preps, which has produced numerous ready-made college players like Marvin Harrison Jr., Jeremiah Trotter Jr., and John Reid. While Smith wasn’t ranked as highly as those guys, he carries a similar pedigree of being a well-coached, refined player. You can see in his tackling technique, where he creates a strong base and never seems out of control.
Coming from a program like St. Joe’s Prep, his adjustment period to the college game shouldn’t be as steep as some others. That might not sound like much, but it should give Smith a leg up compared to some classmates.