Avery Smith

● Quick-footed athlete, with flashes of explosiveness 543 Back to table of contents -- 547 of 629 -- ● Both controlled and fluid as a mover, keeping his feet underneath him ● Comfortable mirroring closer to the line ● Allows receiver’s eyes and body language to cue him when the ball is arriving ● Played a lot of off coverage and reads routes well from depth to burst to intersect point ● Highly competitive and battles for the ball through the catch ● Toughness jumps out in the run game ● NFL scout: “Staff says he learned how to train and study from Quinyon (Mitchell). … Now, he’s passing it on to the younger group.” ● Made several plays on special teams all four seasons, including blocked punt and blocked field goal

● On smaller side for the position, with lean bulk and short arms ● Very small hands — left interception production on the field ● Questionable deep speed and will struggle to close gaps in trail ● Eager in coverage and will bite on pumps and route fakes ● Will try to grab once he feels a step behind on inside release ● Bulldog run defender but allows some ball carriers out of his grasp, because of shallow angles and average finishing strength ● Can be engulfed by blocking receivers on outside

A two-year starter at Toledo, Smith played inside and outside in former defensive coordinator Vince Kehres’ scheme. He broke into the starting lineup after Quinyon Mitchell’s departure and showed his versatility as a senior, switching between nickel, field and the boundary. He earned All-MAC honors as a junior and senior and combined for 28 passes defended over his final two seasons. A high school quarterback, Smith has a good feel for reading the field and understanding coverage angles. Though his long speed is average, he is a twitchy athlete who can drive on the ball and annoy receivers like a gnat at a barbecue. Despite his shorter arms, he is always ball searching and attacks run support with a spunky attitude. Overall, Smith is undersized and can be stacked vertically, but his ascending cover skills and competitive toughness are floor-raising traits. His best pro position is likely inside as a nickel corner.