One of the overlooked negatives to the takeover of spread offenses in college football is the difficulty in scouting offensive line play. Many prospects will rarely even start in a 3-point stance anymore and their responsibilities post-snap are overly quick and simple. Auburn runs an offense that can make the transition from college to the NFL extremely difficult for its linemen. The learning curve is comparable to a quarterback who has never been in a huddle or under center.
When scouting the big uglies from an offense like this, it is important to look for the baseline tools. Braden Smith checks all the boxes in that department. He is tall and long with exceptional foot speed and heavy hands. The athlete in him stands out consistently. He shows easy balance and body control against the speed of SEC whether he is matched up against a quick pass rusher or a fast linebacker. He can hang athletically no matter what. Next thing to search for is the ability to sustain blocks, although the opportunities to find these plays can be tough to come by. Smith does this very well. He can adjust on the fly and maintain his strength on the move, whether it is lateral or downhill. The last primary aspects to scout are the techniques and repeatability. Smith’s easy knee bend and consistent hand placement allow him to stay under control and stick to his assignment.
Smith may not come from an NFL-type offense, but his ability and techniques are there. He plays both sides of the line and can even project as a tackle at the next level. The versatile tool set and ability to play against both speed and strength will be attractive to teams in the middle rounds. Although the learning curve maybe steep because of the scheme he currently plays in, the ceiling is high.