'25 MD DL Darrion Smith

[#Vol4Life1991]

goidness

Goid insight

 

[Skullbone]

 

[Deathandtaxes]

Yep….

Love to know your thoughts on this kid?

 

[KingVFL]

Love to know your thoughts on this kid?

Ummm

He’s small but great burst. Can’t teach his level of athleticism that he has and how quick his first step is. That said unclear if he’ll ever be big enough to be an every down guy. Might be an inside pass rush specialist only. Could be a really nice situational add for us.. I doubt ever a 3 down starter. All in - nice take, not a home run.

 

[utvolmaniac]

Ummm

He’s small but great burst. Can’t teach his level of athleticism that he has and how quick his first step is. That said unclear if he’ll ever be big enough to be an every down guy. Might be an inside pass rush specialist only. Could be a really nice situational add for us.. I doubt ever a 3 down starter. All in - nice take, not a home run.

You may be right…and definitely know more than I, but Aaron Donald was 6’1” and 280. This kid’s On3 profile shows he’s 6’2” and 260. If accurate, a little weight room work and who knows……

 

[KingVFL]

You may be right…and definitely know more than I, but Aaron Donald was 6’1” and 280. This kid’s On3 profile shows he’s 6’2” and 260. If accurate, a little weight room work and who knows……

I actually thought of making that comparison but he’s a 1 of 1. I don’t think Smith’s burst is at that level but we can certainly hope

 

[swchandler1988]

Kurott Garland was 6’2 273 when he arrived on campus. He’s was one of our most reliable interior d linemen for like 4-5 years

 

[VolInDayton]

Based off of offer list he's almost as underrated as Charles House

 

[JCVol00]

Ummm

He’s small but great burst. Can’t teach his level of athleticism that he has and how quick his first step is. That said unclear if he’ll ever be big enough to be an every down guy. Might be an inside pass rush specialist only. Could be a really nice situational add for us.. I doubt ever a 3 down starter. All in - nice take, not a home run.

If hes a bit under sized but has quick first step and is athletic, is there any chance he slides outside to DE?

 

[Franklin_Vol09]

He’s got 12 months to put on weight plus he probably will redshirt his freshman year. Kid can easily put on 25-30 lbs in 24 months, IF his body type can carry it.

 

[LittleVol]

If hes a bit under sized but has quick first step and is athletic, is there any chance he slides outside to DE?

We really want to have length on the edges.

This guy is similar to Billy Ratliff in the way he plays.

Remember Billy was awesome when he wasn’t injured. But like King just said, a nice rotation piece/ situational player is probably what Smith is.

I watched him last year vs St John Bosco, and he did look smaller than all the other Dlineman/Olineman

Aaron Donald and John Randle are oddities of nature, but this kid can become productive and keep our pipeline to St Frances open.

We lost 2, luckily Bailey stayed

 

[KingVFL]

If hes a bit under sized but has quick first step and is athletic, is there any chance he slides outside to DE?

Not tall enough

He’s got 12 months to put on weight plus he probably will redshirt his freshman year. Kid can easily put on 25-30 lbs in 24 months, IF his body type can carry it.

My comment was more a comment on his frame than his actual current weight. The thought is he’ll likely always be slightly undersized.

Again I’m glad we’re taking the kid. I was just asked for objective assessment

 

[Weezer]

I might be wrong, but I do not think that is correct. We have to cut a certain amount of scholarships by the end of our probation, and we can choose to do that how we want. Just like we cut a ginormous amount the first year Heup was here, as part of a self induced penalty.

The way the punishment is worded is unclear. It makes it seem that we have to be at least two scholarships down each year we are on probation. So not sure if that's accurate or poor wording.

 

[SugarCC]

Bryson Eason was 6'2, anywhere from 250 to 270 coming into his freshman year...some pubs had him listed as light as 230. What is he now, 310...320?

 

[OrangeMoundTNVol]

Garner takes one of these types every cycle. And he delivers, will never be a star but a good rotational guy. See Jenkins, Wallace this past cycle. Good pickup IMO, expect to see this kid pop back up as a redshirt sophomore.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Bryson Eason was 6'2, anywhere from 250 to 270 coming into his freshman year...some pubs had him listed as light as 230. What is he now, 310...320?

Bigger frame, though. I think that was King’s point.

 

[SugarCC]

Bigger frame, though. I think that was King’s point.

May be...but, Smith don't have to be 310, 320. Put 20, 25 on him, to get him to 280, 285, he'll be just fine. My point is, both Eason and Smith are around the same size out of HS...while maybe not having the frame to put on 40 to 50, he has the frame to put on 20 to 30. And, if he's as quick as King is saying, at that size, that's scary.

 

[benholt06]

Dom Bailey plays at 292. I see no reason why this kid can’t play around 290. He won’t be an immediate contributor but give him to CRG and he’ll be a depth piece in a 10 man DL rotation like we have now.

 

[LittleVol]

Bryson Eason was 6'2, anywhere from 250 to 270 coming into his freshman year...some pubs had him listed as light as 230. What is he now, 310...320?

He was 255 and still playing LB for Pruitt.
As soon as he switched the following year he went up to 275 and hasn’t looked back.


But he’s bottom heavy. Smith isn’t as bottom heavy.

 

[Jackcrevol]

Ummm

He’s small but great burst. Can’t teach his level of athleticism that he has and how quick his first step is. That said unclear if he’ll ever be big enough to be an every down guy. Might be an inside pass rush specialist only. Could be a really nice situational add for us.. I doubt ever a 3 down starter. All in - nice take, not a home run.

why do we seem to 'struggle' at dl recruiting specifically?

 

[allvolrecruiting]

Bryson Eason was 6'2, anywhere from 250 to 270 coming into his freshman year...some pubs had him listed as light as 230. What is he now, 310...320?

Bryson Eason was also coming as a LB from a public high school in Memphis. Smith is coming as having played IDL at Saint Frances Academy. He’ll probably always be undersized and a three tech that can impact pass rushing downs and I think that will just be fine imho

 

[Smokymtnbullet]

Ed O once said Warren Sapp was the perfect size at 6’2” and 285 firing off the ball.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

so this kids gonna be a Warren Sapp/aaron donald hybrid.

Got it.

 

[benholt06]

so this kids gonna be a Warren Sapp/aaron donald hybrid.

Got it.

3* = diamond in the rough

 

[Franklin_Vol09]

My comment was more a comment on his frame than his actual current weight. The thought is he’ll likely always be slightly undersized.

Again I’m glad we’re taking the kid. I was just asked for objective assessment

Yeah, I haven’t seen the kid in person to make the assessment. He is obviously wanted by several big programs. Hopefully he has the mentality to work into his frame and develop vs transfer out when he isn’t getting early PT.