Matt Bowen of the National Football Post recently took an extra look at Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Harrison Smith, asking a fellow scout to compare notes on the 6'2" graduate student. The scout's impressions were positive, to say the least:
- Smart/instinctive (thought he would run in the 4.4s based on the tape)
- Can get off the hash/ play the middle of the field
- Hands? Would be a Top 15 pick if he finished plays
- Great anticipation
- Good range
- Will get "leggy" at times in his pedal/high-cut athlete
- Should play 10-12 years in the league
- Early to mid 2nd round pick
Smith collected a total of 90 tackles in the 2011 NCAA season and has 7 interceptions in his career -- all of them coming in his 2010.
The Chicago Bears may well be one of the teams looking to acquire Smith if he falls low enough in the second round of the draft. Chicago has had a roulette of starting safeties over the past half decade, and finally settled on the young duo of S Chris Conte and S Major Wright. But injuries have played significant roles in both players' careers, meaning the the Bears might continue to look for an upgrade or at least insurance at the position.
Stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Chicago Bears be sure to visit Windy City Gridiron. Visit SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.
