James Smith
Ohio State#172 overallDraft Movement
Down 6 spots since Jun 8
Scouting Report
James Smith is a high-pedigree, trait-based interior defender who has climbed draft boards faster than his production. A five-star, top-20 national recruit out of Carver in Montgomery, he waited behind a deep Alabama front before breaking out as a junior starter in 2025. Sam Teets of Sports Talk ranked him 38th on his May big board and bumped him to 29th overall by August, into a Tier 2 he labels 'Ascending Superstars.' At a listed 6'3" and roughly 296 to 297 pounds, Smith is a slightly undersized, explosive penetrator who fits the classic 3-technique mold, exchanging gaps with impressive agility and burst off the snap and on stunts. His club-swim is his best pass-rush move and generates instant wins, especially against centers, and he flashes a two-armed bull rush that walks blockers into the pocket. Smith's hands are active but raw, lacking pop and timing, and his run defense is a mixed bag; he runs himself out of plays and struggles to anchor against doubles, though he uses a knee-drop to clog lanes and looks far more patient one-on-one against a single guard. Chiefs Wire calls him an explosive developmental lineman whose disruption is still catching up to the hype, and nfldraftbuzz grades him a poor pass rusher whose tape lags the billing. He was ejected for targeting against Georgia and entered the portal afterward, rated the top available interior lineman before committing to Ohio State. The bet is on what the frame and length become with coaching; the recruiting ranking is still ahead of the film.
Strengths
- Five-star, top-20 national recruit pedigree with coveted size and length inside
- Explosive get-off and burst, shoots gaps cleanly off the snap and on stunts
- Classic penetrating 3-technique with impressive agility exchanging gaps
- Club-swim is a plus move that wins instantly, especially against centers
- Two-armed bull rush that can walk guards and centers into the pocket
- Flashes disruption with 6.5 TFL in 2025
- Patient and controlled one-on-one, stacks and sheds against a single guard
- Terrific motor, finishes when isolated in the run game
Weaknesses
- Pass rush graded poorly
- just 2.5 sacks despite the disruption flashes
- Production never matched the five-star billing
- Slightly undersized inside and struggles to anchor versus doubles
- Hands are raw, lack pop, need better control and timing
- Pad level inconsistent and counters arrive late against double teams
- Over-aggressive attacking mentality runs him out of run-fits
- Targeting ejection plus only one full year of meaningful snaps
College Stats
2024: 13 games, 20 tackles, 1 sack, 2 PBU. 2025: 11 of 14 starts, 26 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 11 pressures, 15 run stops.
Measurables
Awards & Honors
Sam Teets 2026 big board No. 29 overall (Tier 2 Ascending Superstars), up from No. 38 in May; nfldraftbuzz 80.3 player rating; five-star, top-20 national recruit.