Roquan Smith LB UGA
Strengths: Plays very fast and can close on the ball or ballcarrier in a hurry. Excellent in coverage. Highly effective in short zones and spy assignments. Can also run with receivers and tight ends deep downfield and make plays in coverage. Very fluid in space and has sideline to sideline range. Reacts very quickly after diagnosing the play and usually puts himself in good position as a result. Closes quickly in the run game and does not allow ballcarriers to get around him to the outside. Aggressive and violent when making contact, often ending plays quickly. Excellent blitzer, especially from A gap position, knows how to time well and how to attack empty lanes to get pressure on the QB.
Weaknesses: Struggles to shed blocks, at times in costly ways in the run game. Occasionally misdiagnoses a play and puts himself in a bad spot. Can be overaggressive in pursuit at times, causing him to run himself out of a play or miss a tackle. Needs to be a better wrap up tackler, misses tackles occasionally going for the big hit.
Other: Has the skillset for 4-3 MLB, 4-3 WLB, or 3-4 ILB at the next level.
Player Comparison: Brian Urlacher