Jaylin Smith
Houston TexansOur College Grade
How good he was in college at what his position is supposed to do, out of 100. Scored against everyone else at his position, adjusted for the level he played at. This is not his NFL grade.
College Production
USC · Pac-12
| Season | Tkl | TFL | Sacks | Hur | PD | INT | Pos Rk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11 | 2 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 353 |
| 2022 | 38 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 354 | |
| 2023 | 69 | 4 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 236 | |
| 2024 | 58 | 4 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 122 |
The seasons in our college data. It does not always reach back to a player's first year.
Scouting Report
USC · 2025 draft class
Smith is a versatile defensive back with excellent athleticism and closing speed. He displays fluid hips in coverage, transitioning smoothly from backpedal to forward movement. In man coverage, Smith demonstrates the speed to match receivers downfield and the physicality to disrupt at the catch point. He's an intelligent zone defender who reads quarterback eyes well and breaks quickly on the ball. Against the run, Smith is a willing tackler who takes good angles to the ball carrier. He has shown the versatility to play both corner and nickel positions effectively.
Strengths
- Athleticism
- versatility
- coverage skills
- fluid hips
- closing speed
- ball skills
- route recognition
- tackling technique
- competitive nature
- scheme versatility
Concerns
- Can get overaggressive in press coverage leading to penalties
- occasionally takes poor angles in open-field tackling
- needs to improve play strength against larger receivers
- can be inconsistent in run support
- needs refinement in zone coverage spacing