Jaylin Smith CB USC | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Jaylin Smith CB USC
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Dual-Role Man/Press CB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 02/03/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.51 seconds (44%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 21.3 DOB: 11/05/2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Dual-Role Man/Press CB | |
| Last Updated: 02/03/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.51 seconds (44%*) | |
| Age: 21.3 DOB: 11/05/2003 | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
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| Overall Rating: | 81.5 / 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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80% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 75.8 | |
| Tackling: |
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75% |
| Run Defense: |
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78% |
| Coverage: |
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79% |
| Zone: |
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80% |
| Man/Press: |
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70% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
7th
Overall Rank:
#234
Position rank:
#41
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| College Games: 39 College Snaps: 1949 | ||
ESPN RATING: 78/100
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247 RATING: 90/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Josh Newton - TCU |
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94% |
| Cameron Mitchell - Northwestern |
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90% |
| Mario Goodrich - Clemson |
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88% |
Draft Profile: Bio
The Friday night lights at Bishop Alemany High School first revealed Jaylin Smith's dynamic playmaking ability, as he starred on both sides of the ball while earning PrepStar All-American honors. His junior year performance - 60 tackles, two picks on defense plus five total touchdowns as a receiver and returner - caught the attention of Power 5 programs nationwide. A brief cameo in Snoop Dogg's football documentary added some Hollywood flair to his recruiting profile, but it was his four-star talent that ultimately landed him at USC.The Trojans' coaching carousel turned Smith's development into a winding journey through the secondary. Three different defensive coordinators deployed him at safety, nickel, and corner while searching for his optimal role. That constant position shuffling produced mixed results until his breakout junior season, where he racked up 75 tackles and earned Holiday Bowl Defensive MVP honors in a statement performance against Louisville that showcased his full potential.
D'Anton Lynn's arrival in 2024 finally brought stability, as Smith settled in at cornerback and began showing the consistency that had previously eluded him. His transformation was evident in USC's season opener against LSU, where he saved a crucial fourth-quarter drive by knifing through traffic to make a textbook open-field tackle at the goal line. That play epitomized Smith's senior year evolution - no longer just an athlete playing defensive back, but a technician who could diagnose and destroy plays with equal measure.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Explosive plant-and-drive ability from off coverage shows up repeatedly against quick game, particularly impressive reading and jumping slot receiver hitches against Washington's RPO attack.
- Natural mirroring skills in man coverage allow him to match releases without opening his hips early, forcing quarterbacks to look elsewhere on crucial downs.
- Disciplined eyes in zone coverage help him maintain leverage while reading quarterback intentions, regularly baiting throws he can drive on and contest.
- Brings advanced blitz timing from the slot, showing knack for disguising pressures and finding creative paths through traffic to affect the quarterback.
- Exceptional open-field tackler who breaks down smoothly and drives through contact, consistently preventing big plays from becoming touchdowns when isolated.
- Quick processor against screen plays, beating blocks to the spot and disrupting timing before plays can develop as shown repeatedly in Holiday Bowl.
- Brings playmaking mindset to special teams coverage units, using his acceleration and tackling ability to consistently affect return game geometry.
- Shows understanding of offensive formations and tendencies, making pre-snap adjustments to put himself in position to defend most likely route combinations.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Route recognition can be inconsistent against teams running sophisticated combinations, particularly when facing switch releases that force him to communicate and pass off.
- Occasional over-aggressiveness jumping short routes leaves him vulnerable to double moves, as exposed by Notre Dame's vertical passing attack.
- Still developing consistency in zone spacing, especially when asked to match pattern combinations from depth against spread formations.
- Limited ball production throughout college career raises questions about ability to create turnovers at next level.
- Can get caught peeking in backfield too long against play action, allowing receivers to slip behind him before recovering position.
Scouting Report: Summary
Smith's film reveals a developmental prospect whose versatility could be both blessing and curse at the next level. His experience across the secondary provides scheme flexibility, but that constant position switching has left some fundamental gaps that need addressing through focused coaching.The flashes of brilliance - like his game-saving tackle against LSU and lockdown coverage against Washington's quick game - show what Smith can become with proper development. However, his overall body of work suggests a player who will need time to refine his technique before competing for defensive snaps.
Coordinators will see Smith as an intriguing late-round option with immediate special teams value and upside as a subpackage defender. His competitive nature and willingness to contribute in multiple phases could help him stick on a roster while developing into a reliable nickel corner down the line.
Jaylin Smith percentiles vs other Cornerbacks (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Jaylin Smith (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
222.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
59.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.