Ourlads' Profile:
2024 Guide: What Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services said about MAASON SMITH:
LSU | HT: 6051 | WT: 306 | 40 time: 5.01 | Arm: 3500 | Hand: 0812 | Wing: 8458
Redshirt sophomore entry, two seasons as full-time starter. Named a Freshman All-America in 2021 before missing almost the entire 2022 season with injury. Regularly aligned as the three-tech in LSU’s even fronts and took reps on the edge. Possesses phenomenal height and weight with elite arm length and a monstrous frame to work with. A mammoth of a human being with impressive athleticism for his size. Shows good explosiveness off the line on high percentage passing downs. Uses brute strength at the point-of-attack to walk offensive linemen into the backfield even when out-leveraged. Powerful hand swipes to knock offensive lineman's hands off of him. Anchors well against solo blocks to hold his ground. Creates significant space on extension. A menace in one-gap schemes who squeezes into lanes with his strength. Shows a polished swim move and club move to apply pressure to the quarterback. Shows good agility when stunting. When he stalls out in pass rush, sticks his extremely long arms in the air to impair the quarterback’s vision. Good closing speed when pursuing the quarterback. A violent tackler who is sure to take ball carriers to the ground when he gets his hands on them. Lumbers out of his stance on the snap and makes minimal ground in his initial steps on early downs. Tightness in his waist hinders his ability to drop his pads, and he almost exclusively plays with high pad level. Marginal hip fluidity as he has difficulty bending and changing direction in pursuit. Easily driven off the line against double teams due to high pad level. Gets washed down the line versus zone blocking schemes. Showed moves to win in pass rush, but must use them more regularly. Measurables will catch the eyes of scouts, but needs significant work to succeed in the NFL.
2023 Stats: 28 T, 4.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 2 PBU, 4 QBH. OSR:27/41. Draft projection: 2nd/3rd round