Good things come to those who wait, and after waiting just over a month since their last verbal commitment, the Ducks were treated to good news Monday when Ahoskie (N.C.) Hertford County three-star defensive lineman Jaylen Smith made the call for Oregon.

COMMITTED feeling good about this one❗️@coach_cristobal @CoachJsalavea @Oregonfootball #GoDucks 🦆 pic.twitter.com/QTxCDJylCL

— Jaylen ☄️ (@JS53x) November 18, 2019

Formerly an NC State verbal commit, Smith backed off his pledge to the Wolfpack only days after receiving an offer from Oregon. From that point forward, Smith worked quickly with members of Oregon’s coaching staff to set up a date for an official visit and get a first-hand look at the university and the city of Eugene. After visiting campus this past weekend for Oregon’s win over Arizona, Smith wasted no time locking in his spot in the Ducks’ 2020 recruiting class.

With his commitment, Smith is 22nd member of Oregon’s 2020 class and is the fourth defensive lineman to pledge to the Ducks, joining fellow three-star prospects Jake Shipley, Maceal Afaese, and Bradyn Swinson. The Ducks currently boast the nation’s 15th-ranked recruiting class and no. 2-ranked class in the Pac-12 behind Washington, per 247Sports’ Composite Team Rankings.

Below we take a closer look at Smith’s game, examining his weaknesses and strengths, as well as projecting how he may make an impact for the Ducks when he ultimately arrives on campus.

Notable weaknesses:

• A frame to fill out: Smith is already a big athlete, but he’s a big athlete with room to only get bigger. While this will be a strength in time, time is the operative word here, as Smith will likely need it before he rounds into the player he’s capable of being. His ability to arrive ready to play physically could be the difference between consistent reps as a freshman, or a redshirt.
• Questionable prep competition: Evaluating high school talent is a tricky thing as is, but it can be especially difficult to assess a player’s abilities relative to the competition he faces. In Smith’s case, his Hertford Country High School team competes in North Carolina’s Class 2A division, meaning these are generally smaller high school programs who draw from a generally smaller talent pool. This casts some doubt on Smith’s true talent compared to players who face a higher level of competition week in and week out. 

Notable strengths:

• Tremendously agile: Regardless of the level of talent Smith faces on any given Friday, it’s clear that Smith has physical attributes you simply cannot teach. One of his most notable traits is his outstanding agility. Smith’s ability to change direction, accelerate, and decelerate is rare for a player who is listed at 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds. Because of this, Smith could be a player who fills any number of roles along the defensive line.
• Impressive quickness, pursuit: Similar to his agility, Smith’s burst off the line of scrimmage and relentless pursuit of ball carriers is something that could enable him to a be difference maker at the next level. You don’t find many players of his size that combine quick twitch ability with a consistent motor.
• Ultra physical: With all this talk about Smith’s athletic tools, one might think he’s a player who’s game is more predicated on finesse than strength and power. That couldn’t be further from the truth, as Smith demonstrates tremendous strength and physicality at the point of attack. His ability to straight up overpower his opponents is matched by his capacity to effectively get off blocks and make plays at or behind the line of scrimmage.

Overall outlook:

Though the star rating next to his name may underwhelm the star gazers among us, there’s plenty of evidence on film to suggest that Smith may be one of the more underrated prospects nationally. While they play vastly different positions, in some ways, Smith reminds us of 2019 signee DJ James in that both players really out play their modest recruiting ranking when you pop in the tape. Not only does Smith have great size, but he combines that bulk with terrific athletic ability that could make him a key member of Oregon’s defensive line in the years to come. Combine that with the tutelage he’ll receive under Ducks defensive line coach Joe Salave’a, who excels in molding young defensive linemen, and it’s hard not to feel bullish about Smith’s chances to make an impact at some point during his time in Eugene. With the ability to play any of the defensive line positions in defensive coordinator Andy Avalos’ defense, Smith is a versatile addition to this group who could be a surprise freshman contributor on defense for the Ducks in 2020.

Top Photo: Ahoskie (N.C.) Hertford County DL Jaylen Smith (247Sports)