Tag: Ainias Smith

Texas A&M WR Ainias Smith selected in fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft

Ainias Smith is headed to Philadelphia!

Texas A&M wide receiver Ainias Smith has been selected 152nd overall in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Smith was a 2023 first team SEC selection in two separate categories: all-purpose and as a return specialist. He hauled in at least 1 catch in 39 consecutive games. The graduate student racked up 1,204 all-purpose yards last season with 53 receptions for 795 yards and 2 touchdowns.

He added 285 punt return yards and 103 kick return yards, including a career-high 131 punt return yards against Arkansas on Sept. 30. During the 34-22 win against the Razorbacks at “Jerry’s World,” he returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown.

Smith is very comparable to former Eagles wideout DeSean Jackson, given his ability to be a reliable receiver on offense and a lethal option in the punt and return game on special teams.

Four Aggies have been selected in the draft thus far including: Edgerrin Cooper, McKinnley Jackson and Layden Robinson.

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Eagles select Texas A&M WR Ainias Smith with pick No. 152 overall in 2024 NFL draft

Eagles select Texas A&M WR Ainias Smith with pick No. 152 overall in 2024 NFL draft

The Eagles have a Swiss army knife on both sides of the football after dominating the NFL draft.

On Day 2, Philadelphia traded up to No. 40 overall for Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean. On Saturday, in Round 5, the Eagles selected Texas A&M wide receiver Ainias Smith at No. 152.

2021 Smith led the Aggies with 47 receptions, 509 yards (10.8 per), and six receiving scores.

Last season, during his final year at A&M, Smith earned first-team All-SEC All-Purpose/RS while leading the team with 53 receptions and 795 receiving yards (15.0 per).

The selection continues with the weekend theme of Philadelphia selecting versatile and athletic playmakers.

Colts meet virtually with Texas A&M WR Ainias Smith

The Colts will reportedly meet with Texas A&M WR Ainias Smith virtually as part of the pre-draft process. Here is what you need to know.

The Indianapolis Colts are reportedly one of several teams who are going to meet virtually with Texas A&M wide receiver Ainias Smith, according to Aaron Wilson.

Smith, a Senior Bowl participant, measures in at 5-9 and weighs 190 pounds. He posted a Relative Athletic Score of 7.31 out of 10, which included a 4.55-second 40-yard dash and 6.84-second 3-cone.

Smith spent most of his college career lined up in the slot and is a fairly experienced player with over 2,100 career snaps.

In 2022, Smith’s season was limited to just four games with a leg injury. In 2023, Smith had three different quarterbacks throughout the course of the season. He would catch 53 of his 78 targets at 15.0 yards per catch with two scores.

In addition to what he brings as a receiver, Smith finished his college career with 71 rushing attempts – 49 of which came in 2020 – and he also had 86 career punt return attempts, including an impressive 14.3 yards per return in 2023.

For more on Smith’s game, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote this in his pre-draft report:

“Slot receiver with a somewhat unusual blend of elusiveness and power when the ball is in his hands. Smith is fine as a possession slot who can run more complicated routes underneath while also offering the courage to work successfully into the middle of the field. The route running is good but has room to get even better with more polish.

“However, his true calling might be as a gadget guy. He expands play-calling options with his ability as an occasional ball-carrier and open-field explorer, where the quick game and West Coast routes would allow him to get the ball in his hands and do his thing.”

Zierlein’s NFL comp for Smith is Christian Kirk, and he is generally thought of as a potential Day 3 pick.

Smith recently underwent surgery after a stress fracture was found in his shin while undergoing medical testing at the NFL Combine. Wilson also reported that Smith is making a “speedy recovery.”

The Colts find themselves in decent shape at the receiver position with Michael Pittman, Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce, but this is a position where they could use another playmaking presence, not to mention that the more help they can give their young quarterabck Anthony Richardson, the better.

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Ainias Smith, Texas A&M

Ainias Smith brings a versatile and dangerous set of skills to the NFL

Ainias Smith committed to Texas A&M after filling many roles at high school in Sugar Land, Texas. He was used equally as a running back and wide receiver, plus returned kicks and punts and even threw 27 passes along the way. He also played some free safety and cornerback as one of those talented players that prompt coaches into saying, “how else can we use this guy?”

Smith played minimally as a freshman while playing in a dual role. In 2020, he was officially switched to being a running back where he was given five to ten carries in most games, along with three to five receptions. His 43 receptions, even as a running back, led the Aggies.

He switched back to being primarily a wideout as a junior when his 47 catches again paced the team. He then fractured his right leg after five games in 2022 and missed the rest of the season. He accounted for more than a quarter of the Aggies total offense at the time he was injured.

The fifth-year senior again led the team in receiving last year but was limited to only five carries. He wrapped up his career as a versatile weapon for the Aggies while playing through injuries and contending with inconsistent play from their quarterbacks.

Height: 5-9
Weight: 190 pounds
40 time: 4.5 seconds estimated

Smith’s measurements at the NFL Combine saw him even smaller than the Aggies had stated. He weighed in ten pounds less at 190 and was only 5-9. He was also diagnosed with a stress fracture in his left shin and held himself out of all of the drills. He is expected to be a Day 3 selection.

Table: Ainias Smith NCAA stats (2020-23)

Year School Games Catch Yards Avg. TD Rush Yards TD
2019 Texas A&M 12 22 248 11.3 3 7 54 0
2020 Texas A&M 10 43 564 13.1 6 49 293 4
2021 Texas A&M 12 47 509 10.8 6 8 26 0
2022 Texas A&M 4 15 291 19.4 2 3 11 0
2023 Texas A&M 12 53 75 15.0 2 5 21 0
Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

  •  Versatile play-maker for the Aggies who can fit into an NFL offense looking for a special weapon. Very coachable and can do anything.
  • Excellent vision in open field – homerun ability when he has the ball.
  • Diverse talent set allow him to contribute in many ways. Can run, receive, and return. Likely will be an immediate return man.
  • Adequate pass protection and willing run blocker who is better than most his size.
  • Shifty and elusive. Superior start-stop ability aids yards after catch.

Cons

  • Seemed to lose top-end acceleration after his broken leg in 2022, but hopes that he’s completely recovered for 2024. Stress fracture at the combine doesn’t help.
  • Smaller size and injury history prompts durability concerns.
  • Small catch radius
  • Quicker than fast
  • Lacks the size and strength to land contested catches

Fantasy outlook

The rookie prospects for Ainias Smith are limited. He’s a player that will have much more NFL value for his team than reliable fantasy value. As with most players that enter the NFL with a diverse set of skills, Smith may not fit into a specific role enough for the volume needed to matter in fantasy.

Smith is worth tracking and is likely a Day 3 pick, so he could land anywhere. Until his role is clear and proven on his new team, he’ll be hard pressed to show up much as a rookie, though his ability to return kicks and punts could make him much more valuable.

‘I feel like this is the most disciplined team A&M has seen in a good little minute’ WR Ainias Smith is a fan of Aggies HC Mike Elko

During Texas A&M’s Pro Day on Tuesday, wide receiver Ainias Smith showed off his skill set while praising new football coach Mike Elko

Texas A&M’s annual Pro Day took place on Tuesday, providing ample opportunity for over a dozen participating players to impress NFL scouts. The four NFL Combine invitees led the charge: linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, safety Demani Richardson, offensive lineman Layden Robinson, and wide receiver Ainias Smith.

Also returning to College Station for the event, former starting quarterback Kellen Mond is looking to get his NFL career back on track after brief stints with the Minnesota Vikings and the Cleveland Browns. While Cooper, Richardson, and Robinson could go through drills during the Combine earlier this month, Ainias Smith’s recently discovered left shin injury prevented him from going through drills and, most importantly, running the 40-yard dash.

Given the opportunity to finally show off his speed after a couple of added rest weeks, it was reported that Smith had run anywhere between a 4.4 and 4.5 40 times. That time is highly impressive, as Smith is sure to fully recover from his stress fracture by the time he enters training camp this summer.

With new head football coach Mike Elko preparing for his inaugural season at the helm, Smith provided his thoughts on what made the former Duke HC the right hire to help the program finally live up to the lofty standard bestowed upon it year after year:

“He established discipline. I feel like that was something that we were lacking and needed at A&M. And right now, I feel like this is the most disciplined team A&M has seen in a good little minute.”

Even though Ainias Smith will be taking his talents to the next level, he knows what it takes to bring a locker room together while consistently acting as a leader among men for the last five seasons. If you’re going to rust any opinion regarding Elko’s hiring, trust this one.

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Here are the final 2024 NFL Combine grades for every Texas A&M participant

Here are the final 2024 NFL Scouting combine grades for Edgerrin Cooper, Demani Richardson, Ainias Smith, and Layden Robinson.

The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine is over, and the results are in: those who participated in the offensive line drills will likely all make an NFL roster, including former Texas A&M OL Layden Robinson, and former Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy is really, really fast, running a combine record 4.21 second 40-yard dash.

While every position group showed up, Robinson was the last to participate. Still, former Aggies linebacker Edgerrin Cooper showed out on the first day, running an impressive 4.52 40-yard dash, and a 1.54 second 10-yard split, tied for third best among participating linebackers.

On Friday, veteran safety Demani Richardson had an adequate day, running a 4.6 40 while possessing the tools to one day thrive as a box safety once he finds his footing. Last but not least, wide receiver Ainias Smith would sadly miss the on-field drills due to a newly discovered stress fracture in his left shin, but he could participate in the bench press, notching an impressive 21 reps.

Now focused on the NFL Draft set for April 25, here are the final grades for all four Aggies, according to NFL.com.

Lions 2024 NFL draft report: Ainias Smith, Wide Receiver, Texas A&M

Smith offers speed and playmaking versatility later in the draft

It is finally draft season for Lions fans.

Brad Holmes and his front office have proven they are very capable of putting together great draft classes. They have had major hits on every day of the draft, but especially on Day Two. This roster isn’t in desperate need of much because of his work, but they do have some positions that need to be addressed.

This offseason, they should be focusing on getting better play out of their defensive backs, adding depth on the defensive line, and building out the wide receiver room.

These scouting reports should introduce you to some of the names that Lions fans could hear during the three days of the NFL Draft.

Panthers 2024 post-combine meetings tracker

Does anybody need a list of 2024 draft prospects the Panthers have spoken with thus far? We got you.

The 2024 scouting combine is now in the books. 40s have been dashed, 20s have been shuttled, benches have been pressed and vertical and broads have been jumped.

Oh, and there were plenty of talks to be had.

Among the annual activities at the combine are the meetings between prospects and potentially interested teams. And as far as the Carolina Panthers are concerned, we may have to pay a bit more attention to who they’re talking to since their first pick doesn’t pop up until the second round.

So, we’ll help you out.

Here are all the known players—whether they were at the combine, Senior Bowl, Shrine Bowl or even the College Gridiron Showcase—the Panthers have spoken with to this point:

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WATCH: Texas A&M WR Ainias Smith shows off his strength at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine

Former Texas A&M wide receiver Ainias Smith is one strong dude

For one of the best athletes to come through College Station, Texas A&M wide receiver Ainias Smith was set to participate in the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, March 2, but received discouraging news during his medical evaluation, which discovered a stress fracture in his left shin, preventing him from participating in the wide receiver on-field drills.

While the news was borderline devastating for a player who needed the combine to show the scouts in attendance that he’s much more than a slot receiver, he is the most versatile and experienced offensive prospect the draft offers.

However, Smith was able to participate in the bench press portion of the weekend, and if anyone doubted this young man’s strength, let those initial doubts die on the vine. On Sunday morning, weighing in at 190 pounds, Smith repped out 225 pounds 21 times, which is the most by any wide receiver at the combine, and is tied with 10 other players who are all on defense.

Ainias Smith finished his illustrious Texas A&M playing career with 2,812 yards and 23 touchdowns from scrimmage and currently ranks seventh in Texas A&M history in receiving yards with 2,407. Smith will thankfully have another shot to run through drills during the Aggies’ upcoming Pro Day.

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Report: Texas A&M WR Ainias Smith will not participate in NFL Combine drills

A stress fracture in the shin of Ainias Smith will keep him out of the drill at the 2024 NFL combine.

Unfortunately, former Texas A&M wide receiver Ainias Smith will not be able to participate in the drills at the combine due to a stress fracture in his left shin, which was first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport on Saturday morning.

It’s been an up-and-down period after the end of the Aggies 2023 football season where Smith was not medically cleared to play in the bowl game against Oklahoma State, However, he did return to action in the Reese’s Senior Bowl making a good impression in the scouts in attendance.

Smith learned the news during the medical evaluations and will contact a specialist in the upcoming week. He’ll finish out his time in Indianapolis with any remaining meetings and complete his measurements. The news no doubt might affect his draft position, but if his second opinion goes well, he will still have another chance when Texas A&M holds its Pro Day.

Smith has most certainly had a few tough breaks over the past few years, however Sub-Zer0 can never be counted out. He’s shown the ability to bounce back and no matter where he needs up in the NFL them team will be getting a steal.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.