Ainias Smith WR Texas A&M | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Ainias Smith WR Texas A&M
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Slot Receiver | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 04/01/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.48 seconds (59%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 22.10 DOB: 05/31/2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Slot Receiver | |
| Last Updated: 04/01/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2024 | |
| 40 time: 4.48 seconds (59%*) | |
| Age: 22.10 DOB: 05/31/2001 | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
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| Overall Rating: | 81.8 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 96.6 | |
| Hands: |
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86% |
| Short Receiving: |
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81% |
| Intermediate Routes: |
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84% |
| Deep Threat: |
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87% |
| Blocking: |
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54% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
5th
Overall Rank:
#139
Position rank:
#23
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| College Games: 50 College Snaps: 2114 | ||
ESPN RATING: 77/100
College Combine Results
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OVR Rank:
#170
Pos Rank:
#76
State Rank:
#126
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 86/100
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| Ovr Rank: #38 Pos Rank: #68 | ||
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RIVALS RATING: 5.6 (92%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rondale Moore - Purdue |
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83% |
| Skyy Moore - Western Michigan |
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79% |
| Charlie Jones - Purdue |
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78% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Ainias Smith, a product of Dulles High School, entered the collegiate football scene as a 3-star recruit, with both ESPN and 247 Sports acknowledging his potential. Choosing Texas A&M for his collegiate career, Smith quickly made his presence felt on the field. In his freshman year (2019), Smith played in 12 games, securing 22 receptions for 248 yards, averaging 11.3 yards per reception, and scored 3 touchdowns, alongside an impressive QB rating when targeted of 109.5. His upward trajectory continued into his sophomore year (2020), where over 10 games, he snagged 43 catches for 564 yards, boosting his average to 13.1 yards per catch, with 6 touchdowns, and an elite QB rating when targeted of 119.5.The following years saw Smith maintain his crucial role in the Aggies' offense. In 2021, as a junior, he played in 12 games, recording 47 catches for 509 yards, an average of 10.8 yards per catch, with 6 touchdowns, and a QB rating when targeted of 90.2. Despite an injury-shortened senior year in 2022, he managed 15 catches for 291 yards across 4 games, elevating his average to 19.4 yards per catch, with 2 touchdowns, and an elite QB rating when targeted of 115.1. In his final year (2023), as a fifth-year senior, Smith appeared in 12 games, amassing 53 catches for 795 yards, for an average of 15.0 yards per catch, 2 touchdowns, and a QB rating when targeted of 93.7.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Smith's versatility allows him to impact games in multiple phases, including receiving, rushing, and special teams, showcasing his adaptability.
- Renowned for his ability to create yards after the catch (YAC), Smith displays exceptional play strength and contact balance.
- He possesses a natural quickness and fluidity in his movement, making him a threat in open space with elusive, slippery run-after-catch capabilities.
- Smith's route-running quickness and ability to separate in-and-out of breaks highlight his polished skills as a receiver.
- His hands are reliable, catching the ball seamlessly away from his frame and transitioning quickly to gain yards.
- Smith demonstrates a high football IQ, with a great feel for timing and finding soft spots in zones.
- As a return man, Smith's explosiveness and vision can immediately upgrade special teams.
- His fearlessness and competitive nature shine through in contested situations and as a blocker, embodying the ethos of a blue-collar football player.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Smith's play strength against more physical defenders and in contested catch situations could see improvement.
- While his route running is polished, additional subtlety and refinement could elevate his ability to generate separation against NFL-caliber defenders.
- Concerns linger regarding his recovery from a 2022 leg fracture and overall durability.
- His skill set might be perceived as scheme-specific, potentially limiting his versatility at the professional level.
- Smith's catch radius and ability to consistently win on the outside are constrained by his physical dimensions.
Scouting Report: Summary
Ainias Smith enters the NFL Draft as a gadget player whose college tape showcases a Swiss Army knife capability, making him a potential day-three steal for a franchise with a creative offensive mind at the helm. Smith's electric YAC ability and jitterbug quickness in the open field make him a threat on screens, jet sweeps, and as a return specialist, signaling immediate value in the phase game and short-area passing attacks. His nuanced route running and savvy in finding zones suggest a high football IQ, yet concerns about his size and press coverage resilience loom large, painting him as a slot-centric prospect with limited outside versatility.The primary reservations surrounding Smith hinge on his durability and how his skill set translates against the physicality of NFL defensive backs. His prior leg injury flags a potential red flag for durability at the next level, where the speed and physicality notch up significantly. Additionally, his lack of elite top-end speed and smaller catch radius could constrain his ability to be a vertical threat, pigeonholing him into a more predictable role within an offense. Despite these concerns, his special teams prowess and knack for making defenders miss in space could provide an immediate impact while he polishes the finer points of his game.
Smith's projection as an NFL asset is a blend of high-upside potential tempered by clear limitations. His collegiate production in the SEC underscores a playmaker mentality, but his transition to the pro game will be contingent upon landing in a scheme that values his unique attributes and can mitigate his weaknesses.
Ainias Smith percentiles vs other Wide Receivers (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Ainias Smith (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
135.7
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
32.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.