Chris Smith
Video by Jeff Tyner, analysis by Wes Mitchell
Evaluation by Matt O'Brien
What I Like: Smith shows some good coverage skills as a corner, and certainly has a knack for finding the football – but I believe his best value could be on offense for the Gamecocks. He finds a way to make things happen with the ball in his hands, and possesses the skills to work as a slot receiver or as an all-purpose running back in college. Smith is small, fast, and very agile in the open field – attributes that could also help him serve as a punt returner. Another thing I like about Smith is that he comes from South Pointe High School. With all of the many talented prospects who come through that school, and city of Rock Hill, I think it’s important for the Gamecocks to keep that pipeline alive.
Instant Impact? Smith does a lot of nice things with the ball in his hands and I believe he can develop into a dangerous return man, and slot receiver. However, I believe Smith would greatly benefit from a redshirt season to further develop physically and get settled into a defined position/role.
Rivals rating: Based on my observations, I would say Rivals rated Smith a two-star for three main reasons: 1) his offer list isn’t “impressive,” with Air Force and Miami (Ohio) being the next-best offers, 2) his smaller size may not translate well to the level of play within a Power 5 conference, and 3) he doesn’t have a true position to be classified and projected as. All things considered, I believe Smith could develop into a solid role player for the Gamecocks – which fits into the Rivals definition of a two-star.