Is Cam Smith probably the most missed cornerback within the 2023 NFL Draft?

The 2023 NFL Draft cornerback class is traditionally loaded, that includes a number of high-end abilities similar to Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr, Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez, and Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon. There’s a probability we see 5 – 6 cornerbacks chosen within the first spherical, with the vast majority of them getting their due by way of hype. Nonetheless, probably the most underrated of the bunch is perhaps South Carolina’s Cam Smith. The redshirt junior doesn’t fairly have the ceiling of the three gamers listed above, however he’s nearly sure to be a starter on the NFL stage.

What makes Cam Smith a beginning NFL nook?

Smith tracks the ball like a receiver, understanding when to get his head round to search for the ball. Moreover, he has the arms and physique management to make interceptions close to the road of scrimmage.

Smith is ready to learn and react to what’s taking place in entrance of him. He performs with pure instincts, studying screens shortly and arising discipline to make a play on them. When in zone protection or off-man, he completely reads the route of the receiver and eyes of the quarterback. Not solely are his eyes nice through the route, however his route recognition can also be extraordinarily robust, as he shortly dissects what the receiver is operating. These traits enable him to interrupt off his pedal and are available as much as make a play on the catch level. His good enjoying pace is extraordinarily prevalent when triggering up discipline, and it’s borderline excellent in brief areas.

In off-man protection, Smith could be very affected person; he understands his leverage and the place his assistance is at. He doesn’t get antsy, staying true to his method. Smith stays gentle on his toes in these conditions and maintains a superb base width always. The South Carolina alum is greater than comfy within the slot and has the traits essential to play it within the NFL, if wanted.

In press-man, Smith’s ft are quiet off of the road, staying on the balls of his toes and he doesn’t exchange them shortly. Smith’s hips are fluid, which permits him to get out and in of his press with out a lot drawback. He does use his arms and physique after two yards to attempt to dictate the course of the route, which does assist him keep sticky. In zone protection, Smith appears to be like greater than comfy.

He retains his eyes on the quarterback always, regardless of the depth at which he’s enjoying. In zone, he was much better in cover-3 when taking a deep third. He stayed on the balls of his toes with a fast and affected person pedal out of his stance.

Smith is a mentally robust nook who will play along with his mouth guard out and is prepared to journey anyplace with a staff’s opposing no 1 receiver. He did this for South Carolina after they performed Tennessee in 2022, as he traveled inside and outdoors with Jalin Hyatt.

Smith does a superb job of constructing tackles within the open discipline and stopping receivers from selecting up vital yards after the reception, usually bringing them down proper on the catch level. When he triggers up discipline, he is ready to corral the receiver down even when they attempt to juke him instantly after the catch.

What are the restrictions for cornerback Cam Smith?

There are a lot of cases the place Smith leans on the receiver an excessive amount of and grabs on the stem, which ends up in a excessive fee of penalties. It needs to be famous that this isn’t a results of him being a panicky nook, somewhat it’s simply his play model. He does play somewhat passively along with his arms within the first two yards of the route earlier than he will get each of his arms on the receiver.

In each press and off-man protection, he’s a bit inclined to double strikes, which trigger him to get rotated.

He was not usually tasked with enjoying cloud or hook zones, however when he was, he did overflow to some spots and his ft crossed when shifting from space to space.

Smith doesn’t have implausible closing pace. If a receiver is ready to beat him vertically it’s troublesome for him to scale back the area between them.

South Carolina CB Cam Smith on the 2023 NFL Draft Mix

Whereas his top is what groups are in search of, he got here in on the sunshine facet. He confirmed off nice pace, notching among the most athletic numbers of the mix within the broad leap and vertical leap, in addition to operating the 40-yard sprint in a blistering 4.43 with nice 10-yard and 20-yard splits. He had a Relative Athletic Rating of 9.68 out of 10 based mostly on his glorious mix.

Cam Smith highlights

What others are saying about South Carolina CB Cam Smith

“Smith has good pace and common top-end pace. He has some expertise enjoying inside and outdoors for the Gamecocks. Bodily downfield, the South Carolina native does a superb job contesting on the catch level however will be too handsy downfield. He does a superb job of monitoring the ball by means of the air however solely has common restoration pace. His ball manufacturing has been among the many finest within the nation.” — CBS Sports activities NFL Draft analyst Josh Edwards

Cam Smith is the kind of cornerback who can play in both a zone or man protection scheme whereas additionally having the ability to play cornerback on the within and outdoors. That versatility in its personal proper makes him an especially helpful piece to a protection. He’s finest suited to a zone protection scheme the place he can learn and react to what’s taking place in entrance of him utilizing his good soccer intelligence.

Smith’s mixture of excellent ball expertise, good discipline smarts, protection method, and transitions give him the ceiling of a close to high-end starter. Nonetheless, his lack of true closing pace and grabby nature give him the ground of a high-end backup who can play inside and outdoors.