Arian Smith, WR, Georgia
Size:
Height: 6001
Weight: 179
Arm: 31 ¼”
Hand: 9”
Accomplishments:
Four-star recruit
“Arian Smith is a vertical burner with surprising nuance in his release package and stem manipulation to create separation.”
Strengths:
Speed
Release package
Big-play ability
Tracking the football
Concerns:
Catch technique
Physicality
Does he have developed route tree?
Film Analysis:
Arian Smith switched to wide receiver full-time in his senior season at Lakeland High School after playing four positions at Mulberry High School before transferring. He compiled nine catches for 382 receiving yards and six touchdowns his senior season, averaging 20.1 yards per reception. He was also a track and field star with world-class speed, competing in the 100m, 200m, and the long jump, winning a state title in the 200m and finishing second in the 100m. The 6-foot, 185-pound wideout only hauled in 20 passes in his first four seasons at Georgia, but as a fifth-year senior, he caught 48 passes for 817 yards and four touchdowns—a huge breakout season for the long-time Bulldog.
Smith’s usage at Georgia is what you’d expect to see with tons of ‘go’ routes, end-arounds, and a limited route tree. The up-and-down quarterback play didn’t help the receivers, but Smith’s speed was evident while averaging more than 16 yards per reception. He played all over Georgia’s offense, handling schemed touches and the deep ball while showcasing better work at the line of scrimmage than expected. He has a good release package that can move defenders where he wants them, allowing for easier access to the route he wants to run. He uses his hands well against press coverage, along with his releases to stack defensive backs. In his route stem, Smith uses nuanced manipulation tactics inducing speed dilation, route intention, and vertical selling to create separation in the intermediate and deep parts of the field. However, physical defensive backs can bully Smith through his route stem to reroute him and throw off the play's timing.
He flashes quickness at the breakpoint of routes, but when he decelerates, there are added steps in his breakdown that slow down the process. His route tree isn’t as developed, but the nuance to run more routes exists. The catch point is where Smith struggles to remain consistent. His catch technique needs to be refined, and he needs to stop allowing the ball to travel to his chest. Physicality at the catch also contributes to Smith’s drop problem, as he doesn’t fight through contact well. He tracks the ball well at all field levels and eats up space quickly to be a real deep threat.
Smith is an older prospect who didn’t break out until his fifth year, but the surprising nuance and world-class speed will intrigue NFL teams. He needs to improve his catch technique and route tree if he’s going to develop into more than a “gimmick” receiver.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Developmental Traits
Written By: Daniel Harms
Exposures: Alabama (2024), Notre Dame (2025), Texas (2024), Tennessee (2024)
