James

Smith-Williams

Via The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, “A two-year starter at NC State, Smith-Williams played the boundary end in defensive coordinator Tony Gibson’s 3-3-5 stack formation. The pictures of his gradual body transformation (added 70 pounds of bulk) at NC State went viral, but he was better known for his tremendous character, earning the No. 1 jersey as a senior, which is awarded to the player who shows leadership and selflessness on and off the field. Smith-Williams looks the part and has rangy athleticism, but mostly in a straight line and that doesn’t always translate to rushing off the edge. While he has trouble escaping blocks on tape, he does flash power in his upper body, suggesting there is untapped potential with his hands. Overall, Smith-Williams has sterling character and owns a few individual traits that translate well to the NFL, but he has struggled to stay on the field and must streamline his pass rush skills to stick on a pro roster.”

Smith-Williams (6'4/265) made strides throughout his time at NC State, and his achievements away from the field (including earning the opportunity to work at IBM whenever his football career ends) are well-chronicled. But so are the injury issues that he ran into throughout his time at NC State, and that’s something that he has to address during the pre-draft process. “Multiple season-ending injuries and a truncated 2019 with limited production will be hard for teams to get worked up about no matter how well he tests at the NFL Scouting Combine,” Zierlein wrote. Smith-Williams projects to be an UDFA this spring.

Well here’s a new one for you. Smith-Williams (6'4/265) motored through the 40-yard dash in 4.60 seconds on Saturday, but did not appear for on-field drills. Per Jones, the NC State edge rusher would like to come back out, though he might require stitches. Just a minor -- albeit, weird -- injury. Any tests Smith-Williams misses on Saturday can of course be made up during NC State’s pro day later this spring.

Smith-Williams (6'4/265) is currently the leader in the 40-yard clubhouse among defensive linemen testing this weekend. It’s always possible that a player nips him on their second run, but for now, leader in the clubhouse. Smith-Williams, who took part in the East-West Shrine Bowl to start out his evaluating process, infamously showing up on NC State’s campus under 200 pounds before putting on considerable bulk in the Wolfpack’s strength-and-conditioning program. Medical checks coming out of Indianapolis are going to be key, here, as Smith-Williams played in more than six games during a season just once in college.

Smith-Williams (6'3/265) has appeared in just seven games this season due to injury, accounting for 20 total tackles (1.0 for loss), one sack and seven quarterback hurries. Yet even with the injuries, the redshirt senior has been a key leader for the Wolfpack. In late-August, Pro Football Network draft analyst Tony Pauline gave Smith-Williams an UDFA grade. With injuries limiting the amount of time he’s had on the field, the Shrine Bowl represents an important opportunity for Smith-Williams.

Smith-Williams (6'3/265), who accounted for three tackles, one sack and two quarterback hurries in NC State’s season opening win over East Carolina, suffered the ankle/foot injury during the Week 2 win over Western Carolina. His return will give the Wolfpack a welcome boost on the defensive line, as he accounted for six sacks in 2018.

Smith-Williams (6'3/270) is coming off of the best season of his NC State career, as he racked up 37 total tackles (9.5 for loss), six sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. In addition to his work in between the lines, the grad student also earned Academic All-ACC honors and an internship at IBM (which has guaranteed him a job whenever his football career ends). As a result he was given the No. 1 jersey, and he’s expected to lead the way for a defense that should be pretty good. “That’s how I got to where I am now,” Smith-Williams said at the ACC Football Kickoff. “Being the light for them is what happened to me, got me to where I am now. So, I think my role in their development is very important. I take that very seriously.”