LSU has a lot of offensive talent at the top of this year’s draft class, but perhaps the biggest question mark in this year’s group heading pro is defensive tackle [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag].
Smith is a former five-star recruit who impressed as a true freshman in 2021. But a torn ACL cost him nearly the entire 2022 season, and while he returned in 2023, he struggled to find the production many expected of him.
In spite of that, he declared for the draft this offseason, and ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper evaluated what he called an “intriguing” draft profile on a recent episode of First Draft.
“Maason Smith is an intriguing guy,” Kiper said, per On3. “He was a elite recruit right? He showed in practice he could dominate, they were raving about him coming this season. A couple of years ago, the first game, the ACL injury. This year, the suspension early and then a little banged up in the last three games this past season. He was getting after the quarterback, the explosiveness, everything. We saw the quickness when he was healthy, he was coming to the forefront late in the year. The production, the consistency wasn’t there.
“Why? Because he was hurt, then banged up and when he was out there playing through it, and trying to get back to full strength and getting back to where he was pre-ACL, right? He didn’t look like the same player.”
Kiper said in a defensive tackle draft class that isn’t particularly strong, Smith could be a strong option as he continues to get stronger after the ACL tear.
“So when he’s now a couple years removed, coming off that ACL, watch out,” Kiper said. “Defensive tackle position we thought would be really strong this year, that has not materialized. We thought Maason Smith would be one of those guys. I’m ready to move him back up in the top 10 defensive tackles, but I got to look at what he is when he’s healthy and what he was when he was dominant in practice, what he can be. I’m gonna put him in that five or six spot of defensive tackles on my big board.’”
Only time will tell where Smith and other LSU prospects land in April’s draft.
Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.
Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno