Smith, A three-year starter at Nebraska, appeared in 49 of 50 starting in 35 of them. The 6-foot-1, 305-pound defender was named to the 2005 Lombardi Award Watch List and received honorable-mention All-Big 12 honors from the AP in 2004.
Le Kevin Smith (pronounced Leh-KEE-vin) anchored a Nebraska defense that led the nation in sacks and tackles for loss the 2005 season. Forced to redshirt his freshman season due to a torn ACL, Smith went on to become a fixture on the defensive line before entering the 2006 NFL Draft.
Smith worked with the team's interior defensive linemen at minicamp. He is projected as a defensive tackle or nose guard depending upon the defensive alignment.
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| Patriots defensive tackle Le Kevin Smith (65) shares a laugh with fellow lineman Mike Wright (99) as DL Kader Drame looks on at the team's minicamp June 13, 2006 (Photo Jon Scott / PatriotsInsider.com) |
TFY Draft Preview had this as their Scouting report on Smith:
Pos: Explosive defensive lineman who makes plays in pursuit. Built low to the ground, plays with good pad level and gets off the ball with a great first step. Alters his angle of attack, has a closing burst of speed and makes plays out to the sidelines. Can drop off the line and play in space.
Neg: Controlled by a single blocker and rarely gets much push up the field. Has tackles broken. Considered lazy by NFL scouts.
Analysis: A prospect who flashes ability, Smith has displayed limited consistency and is labeled an underachiever. His quickness, ability to play with leverage and change-of-direction skills makes him a potential three-technique lineman.
Be sure to check the player profile for interviews and more articles on Smith.
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