2019 LB recruit Brandon Smith has rare ability

The ability to “play up” is often the hallmark of an elite prospect.

“Playing up.”

It’s the ability for a bigger player to play a position commonly manned by a smaller player. It’s being faster than one’s size normally can be.

A 6’7 point guard changes how a team defends. A huge shortstop allows a team to sneak another big bat into a lineup. Or a defensive-end sized linebacker, which can really change how a defense plays.

In an era when offenses routinely use the whole field, linebackers have become smaller and smaller, as a reaction to the need to be able to play in space. For the most part, 240-pound linebackers are gone.

But Brandon Smith, of Richmond (Virginia) has a chance to truly be different. Because Smith is 6’4, 223 pounds in the spring of his junior season, but he moves and tests like a linebacker.

Smith recently posted a 4.59-second 40, 35” vertical, and a 4.38 agility shuttle. Those are in the 98th, 97th, and 90th percentile.

Those are linebacker numbers from a kid built like a defensive end.

Brandon Smith

But it’s not just Smith’s testing numbers. He also shows the instincts to play linebacker.

Smith is a natural hitter with great power, and an awesome blitzer.

He can shed blocks and chase down plays with more range than players his size usually possess.

It’s possible that Smith blows up, puts on 40 pounds and shifts to defensive end or a JACK backer. But if he only adds 15-20, he could really make an impact at as a traditional linebacker. A team signing Smith can play nickel and consistently stop the run because he is going to beat blockers and make impact run stops.

I spoke with Smith recently about his recruitment. He said that all schools are looking at him as a linebacker.

“Strictly linebacker, nobody is saying defensive line,” Smith said.

Smith wants to decide in September or October, and plans to be an early enrollee.

Where he’ll enroll, though, is not as clear.

Smith is taking an official visit to Texas A&M this weekend, where he is close with Bradley Dale Peveto, the linebackers coach.

“I talk to him on the regular,” Smith said.

That leaves four official visits. This spring, Smith visited Virginia, Virginia Tech, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Penn State. It’s a safe bet that a few of those schools will get visits, but none are locked in.

“We know how Ohio State does their thing,” Smith said. “Penn State has strong linebackers; Notre Dame, they’re an all-around school; and Michigan has good linebackers as well.”

Smith is a strong student, and wants to study criminology, with a focus on forensics.

He said that he does not watch Forensic Files, but does watch NCIS.

One school mentioned by Smith when he spoke with SB Nation back February at the Under Armour Future 50 event was Florida State. He did not visit FSU this spring, but said he still speaks with coach Odell Haggins.

Smith stressed that all of his future visit plans are still up in the air.