THE FUND:
As part of an offensive attack from South Carolina, wide receiver Shi Smith has been one of the bright spots for Gamecocks in recent seasons, posting more than 2,200 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns during his career. Smith checked in at 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl with 5-10 pairs and 186 pounds, making his designation for the slot position practically verified. Noteworthy, Smith sports 9 6/8 ‘hands that appear in the film, where he showed the ability to make plays in contested footprint situations. The Union native in South Carolina is known to be a notable leader among those participating in the South Carolina program, with a competitive streak and a notable garbage talker. Smith decided on Gamecocks instead of other offers, including Alabama, Appalachian State, Clemson and Kentucky, among others.
FORCES:
Continuing the trend of talented wide receivers from the University of South Carolina, Shi Smith follows the line of Deebo Samuel and Bryan Edwards as versatile game creators abroad. With a smooth athletic profile, including short-range explosiveness and straight-line speed, Smith is a tough cover for opposing defenders. He is an astute runner who has a clear understanding of blind spots on the roof and how to attack the lever. After a bit of a low season in 2019, Smith reacted grandly during 2020. Smith is a YAC monster who has a headache in post-capture situations, using his natural athletics to navigate in the open. In a strong 2021 wide receiver group, Smith has the characteristics of being one of the most coveted slot receivers in the entire class.
AREA TO IMPROVE:
Sporting a smaller frame, Smith can be limited to slot tasks at the next level. With a small capture radius and limited ability to work against press coverage, this detracts from its alignment versatility. The consistency has been sporadic for Smith, disappearing very often in the cinema, especially during the 2019 season.
PROJECTION OF PROJECTION:
After what appears to be a dynamic display during Senior Bowl week, Smith has an upward pointing arrow in his draft stock. Although he can be seen as a “slot machine only” type of player on the next level, he has the kind of nuance, short-range speed and hand strength that will quickly make him a quarterback’s best friend. After all, a choice somewhere on the second day seems reasonable to Smith.