The 2023 NFL Draft cornerback class is traditionally loaded, that includes a number of high-end skills comparable to Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr, Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez, and Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon. There is an opportunity we see 5 – 6 cornerbacks chosen within the first spherical, with nearly all of them getting their due when it comes to hype. However, essentially the most underrated of the bunch is perhaps South Carolina’s Cam Smith. The redshirt junior doesn’t fairly have the ceiling of the three gamers listed above, however he’s virtually sure to be a starter on the NFL degree.
What makes Cam Smith a beginning NFL nook?
Smith tracks the ball like a receiver, understanding when to get his head round to search for the ball. Additionally, he has the palms and physique management to make interceptions close to the road of scrimmage.
Smith is ready to learn and react to what’s taking place in entrance of him. He performs with pure instincts, studying screens shortly and arising discipline to make a play on them. When in zone protection or off-man, he completely reads the route of the receiver and eyes of the quarterback. Not solely are his eyes nice through the route, however his route recognition can also be extraordinarily sturdy, as he shortly dissects what the receiver is working. These traits enable him to interrupt off his pedal and are available as much as make a play on the catch level. His good taking part in pace is extraordinarily prevalent when triggering up discipline, and it’s borderline excellent briefly areas.
In off-man protection, Smith could be very affected person; he understands his leverage and the place his assistance is at. He doesn’t get antsy, staying true to his approach. Smith stays mild on his toes in these conditions and maintains a superb base width always. The South Carolina alum is greater than snug within the slot and has the traits essential to play it within the NFL, if wanted.
In press-man, Smith’s ft are quiet off of the road, staying on the balls of his toes and he doesn’t substitute them shortly. Smith’s hips are fluid, which permits him to get out and in of his press with out a lot drawback. He does use his palms and physique after two yards to try to dictate the course of the route, which does assist him keep sticky. In zone protection, Smith seems to be greater than snug.
He retains his eyes on the quarterback always, regardless of the depth at which he’s taking part in. In zone, he was much better in cover-3 when taking a deep third. He stayed on the balls of his toes with a fast and affected person pedal out of his stance.
Smith is a mentally robust nook who will play along with his mouth guard out and is keen to journey anyplace with a group’s opposing no 1 receiver. He did this for South Carolina after they performed Tennessee in 2022, as he traveled inside and out of doors with Jalin Hyatt.
Smith does a superb job of constructing tackles within the open discipline and stopping receivers from selecting up important yards after the reception, usually bringing them down proper on the catch level. When he triggers up discipline, he is ready to corral the receiver down even when they attempt to juke him instantly after the catch.
What are the constraints for cornerback Cam Smith?
There are many situations the place Smith leans on the receiver an excessive amount of and grabs on the stem, which leads to a excessive charge of penalties. It ought to be famous that this isn’t a results of him being a panicky nook, slightly it’s simply his play fashion. He does play slightly passively along with his palms within the first two yards of the route earlier than he will get each of his palms on the receiver.
In each press and off-man protection, he’s a bit inclined to double strikes, which trigger him to get rotated.
He was not usually tasked with taking part in cloud or hook zones, however when he was, he did overflow to some spots and his ft crossed when shifting from space to space.
Smith doesn’t have improbable closing pace. If a receiver is ready to beat him vertically it’s tough for him to scale back the area between them.
South Carolina CB Cam Smith on the 2023 NFL Draft Combine
While his peak is what groups are searching for, he got here in on the sunshine facet. He confirmed off nice pace, notching a number of the most athletic numbers of the mix within the broad bounce and vertical bounce, in addition to working the 40-yard sprint in a blistering 4.43 with nice 10-yard and 20-yard splits. He had a Relative Athletic Score of 9.68 out of 10 primarily based on his wonderful mix.
Cam Smith highlights
What others are saying about South Carolina CB Cam Smith
“Smith has good speed and average top-end speed. He has some experience playing inside and outside for the Gamecocks. Physical downfield, the South Carolina native does a good job contesting at the catch point but can be too handsy downfield. He does a good job of tracking the ball through the air but only has average recovery speed. His ball production has been among the best in the nation.” — CBS Sports NFL Draft analyst Josh Edwards
Cam Smith is the kind of cornerback who can play in both a zone or man protection scheme whereas additionally having the ability to play cornerback on the within and out of doors. That versatility in its personal proper makes him an especially invaluable piece to a protection. He is finest fitted to a zone protection scheme the place he can learn and react to what’s taking place in entrance of him utilizing his good soccer intelligence.
Smith’s mixture of excellent ball expertise, good discipline smarts, protection approach, and transitions give him the ceiling of a close to high-end starter. However, his lack of true closing pace and grabby nature give him the ground of a high-end backup who can play inside and out of doors.