Overview
Want to meet this year’s Andru Phillips? Say hello to USC’s newest defensive back product, Jaylin Smith. The 5’10 187-pound star is getting nearly zero attention despite several top-thirty visits. This article breaks down the good, the bad, and the ugly with the biggest corner gem in the class.
The Good
There is a laundry list of positives for Smith.
First, his tenacity is off the chart. Every single down, the USC product goes 100% regardless of whether it is a run or pass play. Smith just loves football. Jogging never seems acceptable even when the play is not to his side.
Second, Smith is extremely physical. His size may fool you into believing that this prospect is just some small fast corner that will get bullied by bigger, more physical receivers, but that is far, far from the truth. Smith punishes receivers, runners, and blockers alike. Some individuals are quoted as calling his play versus the run as ‘Piss and Vinegar’ highlighting his extreme intensity. That is precisely what teams look for. On top of that, Smith’s press form is impeccable. It is a pretty remarkable package.
Third, the USC product is ridiculously smooth. Smith shined in Mobile in footwork drills, attracting attention early. That, combined with his press form (mentioned earlier), creates a foundation many NFL defensive coaches will get excited to add to their arsenal.
Lastly, Smith is uniquely versatile. He has multiple years of slot/nickel experience with the most recent year being on the boundary. The best part is how successful he was in transitioning to the outside. The former Trojan boosted his PFF coverage grade noticeably, hovering in the mid-60s from 2021-2023 to 82.5 in 2024. While some may find him slot only, seeing Smith flourish on the boundary makes his future role far more flexible (he even had some good safety reps). The boost in coverage grade may also be the USC star putting it all together as well, not just moving to a new position. Adding to his versatility is his coverage profile: there is a blend of zone instincts and man technique for any system. The negatives will be highlighted in the next section, but nearly every coverage seemed to be within Smith’s capabilities. That is a big asset when looking at 32 teams that need defensive back help.
The Bad
As with any prospect, there are some downsides to discuss.
First, Smith’s frame is not ideal. Any cornerback that stands under six feet tall immediately raises questions over their ability to handle the larger ‘X’ receivers at the next level. Luckily, being physical is a great way to handle that size difference.
Second, Smith’s athletic profile is uniquely confusing. On tape, he can be seen giving up ground over distance, highlighting some cap on his top speed; however, the USC product is tracked at 23.67 mph with his 4.45 40-yard dash. The 1.6 10-yard split and 32.5” vertical add to the confusion, as Smith is extremely explosive on tape. Tape always beats testing, but it is something to consider.
Lastly, versatility is not necessarily an asset. Smith struggles with some boundary zone concepts (cover three and four) as well as off-man coverage ability. Tez Johnson was unguardable at the Senior Bowl, but one rep in particular (not the X post below) in off-man caught my attention as being a major red flag. The USC product needs to learn to trust himself more than tense up when facing more dynamic weapons. That could limit him in more man-intensive roles. The zone issues feel solvable with experience more than anything.
The Ugly
There is not much that is ‘ugly’ for Smith. The frame could be scary for some to categorize it as a major liability, but plenty of cornerbacks have had success at sub-optimal size. Feel free to relocate that negative into this category.
In Conclusion
Overall, the USC product has a near-perfect blend of traits any NFL team would want to have on their roster. Combine the talent with the tenacity, and at worst, Smith will be an elite special teamer (which has value). It is hard to label any prospect, especially fringe day-two range, as bust-proof, but it will be hard to believe the former Trojan will drop off a roster for the next seven years even if he runs into difficulties. Buy early, buy low, and watch this investment flourish into your next superstar. The question remains: will the NFL use him properly? Only time can tell.
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