Film Room: Devin Smith

The dice are hot over at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility. For the second Friday in a row, Kentucky has added to its 2024 high school recruiting class with yet another front-seven addition. Brunswick (Ga.) High linebacker Devin Smith is joining a deep defensive class for the Wildcats.

The three-star prospect had an impressive offer list with multiple SEC schools involved. Over the summer Kentucky and LSU emerged as the top competitors. The Wildcats got Smith on campus for an official visit this month. Following multiple unofficial visits, that was enough to end the recruitment. Long relationship building paid off for defensive backs coach Chris Collins as Kentucky has added another linebacker to the class with an intriguing toolbox.

Despite playing EDGE in high school, Devin Smith has the range, physicality, and closing speed to project as a quality off-ball linebacker in the SEC. Let’s dive into the tape.

Speed and power

Similar to Cross Plains (Tenn.) Robertson product Elijah Groves and Atlanta (Ga.) Westlake product Antwan Smith, Devin Smith is not a true off-ball linebacker in high school. Instead, his team chooses to use him on the EDGE and also in a safety role to allow his best skills to shine.

Smith is a move-and-strike football player. The class of 2024 prospect can cover a ton of ground in a hurry and brings knock back power to the collision point. The productive player pops on tape.

Smith flashes short-area burst, finishes tackles upon contact, shows great effort in pursuit, is a quick winner with twitch, and can run through faces if required. The latest Kentucky commit owns the required physical traits to be an effective box player at the next level.

There will be some development required for Devin Smith when he arrives in Lexington, but the physical traits give this prospect a high ceiling. The run-and-hit linebacker has a good frame and potential to be a playmaking linebacker in Kentucky’s 3-4 scheme.

Kentucky wants to get faster

A defense cannot be fast unless the off-ball linebackers can run. Having play strength and instincts to make plays in the box will always be required, but in today’s football, these second-level defenders must be able to make plays horizontally and close ground in a hurry.

Elijah Groves and Antwan Smith are both twitched-up linebacker prospects that can flat-out run. The former is an explosive striker. The same can be said for Devin Smith.

Kentucky’s latest commitment seems to be a good fit long-term at Mike linebacker in Kentucky’s scheme. The prospect will need to add some good weight in the strength and conditioning program, but the latest Smith to join the class is a no-doubt striker with sideline-to-sideline range. The Wildcats have a need at off-ball linebacker and are looking to upgrade that room’s athletic profile.

Devin Smith could find an early role as a true freshman on kick coverage, but long-term will give this front seven another high-level athlete who is highly productive in high school and shows knock back power on tape.

Kentucky is banking on its system and coaching in this recruiting cycle, but the ceiling is high for this defensive class. Smith is another player with a ton of potential.