(2023) Nolan Smith- EDGE/OLB- Georgia
Nolan Smith
EDGE/LB
6’3, 235
Senior
2022 Statistics (Per PFF)
*(Ranking is not applicable, only played 104 Pass Rush Snaps this season)
Write-Up:
Nolan Smith is a senior outside linebacker from Georgia who was a 3 year starter, even as a sophomore on the loaded Bulldogs defense. He missed a few games in early 2020 and missed most of the second half of the 2022 season with a torn pectoral that required surgery. At Georgia, Smith lined up mainly as a typical 5-tech edge rusher, but played some off-ball LB where he dropped into coverage, as well as lining up as a wide-9 rusher. In coverage, Smith was very apt and showed he was able to play in space.
Nolan Smith is the true definition of a speed rusher. He possesses a great explosiveness off the line of scrimmage and pairs that with elite speed and agility. He has amazing lateral movement and plays extremely fluidly. He is extremely bendy and able to work around blockers by playing his leverages extremely well. Oftentimes, Smith wins by using his speed to get his body in an advantageous position before the blocker can get there, which can really create havoc in the backfield. He is an excellent run defender, able to clog up run gaps before the runner can get there. Smith’s motor never stops in pursuit of the ball carrier and is one of the most physical tacklers in college when he has the chance to dish out some punishment. As an off-ball linebacker, Smith is also fairly apt in coverage, adding to his versatility.
Despite all of the positives with Nolan Smith, he is fairly raw especially as a pass rusher. His arsenal of pass rush moves is fairly limited, and he often relies purely on his speed and bend to win rather than hand placement and moves. He does have bursts of power in his game, but more often than not prefers to outspeed blockers rather than overpower them. If Smith gets caught up in a block, he lacks the block shedding ability to quickly escape. As a run defender, he can get overzealous at times and lose contain. Of course, there are also durability concerns with Smith.
Overall, Nolan Smith has the amazing athleticism and raw talent to become a really solid NFL player if developed properly. He has elite speed and burst, and is one of the bendier edge rushers in this class. He does need some polish, especially when it comes to his pass rushing moves, and there are injury concerns that have already hurt his draft stock. However, without the injury, Smith would have almost definitely been a 1st round pick, and he certainly could still find his way there if a team falls in love with his skillset enough.
Draft Projection: Round 1-2
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