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Friday, November 3
Sleeper of the Week: Dwight Smith
Editor's Note: Each week Mel Kiper Jr. will highlight one of the intriguing "sleeper" prospects available for the 2001 NFL Draft.
DWIGHT SMITH -- CB -- AKRON
Normally, I will bring to your attention prospects from Division I-AA, Division II or lower levels of competition. However, with the Mid-American Conference on the rise, I wanted to highlight one of the many MAC performers deserving national recognition.
|  | | CB Dwight Smith has eight interceptions in Akron's first five games. |
Dwight Smith, a rock-solid 5-foot-10, 200 pounder with 4.42 speed is off to a great start this season for the Zips and their outstanding head coach Lee Owens.
Through five games, he's already intercepted eight passes, seven of which have come in the last three games. He's also recorded 23 tackles, 21 of which were solo, two stops behind the line of scrimmage, and four pass breakups.
Smith has impacted special teams, blocking a field goal in the Zips' win over Central Florida. Showcasing his versatility and athletic prowess, Smith has seen action in the Zips' three-wide receiver set, hauling in one reception for 33 yards. Smith also has experience as both a punt and kickoff returner.
But it's his ability in man-coverage situations that has gotten the attention of NFL scouts.
Against Virginia Tech, Smith picked off a Michael Vick pass while holding talented Hokie WR Andre Davis to just one catch for nine yards. Against Central Florida, he had three interceptions and followed that with two picks against Ohio.
Last week against Miami (Ohio), Smith came away with two more interceptions, holding the Redhawks' electrifying senior wideout, Sly Johnson, to just eight yards per catch, which is well below his 16-yard average for the season.
Even going back to his prep days in Detroit, Smith has been a play-maker in the deep patrol. His senior year, Smith intercepted 12 passes.
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Against Virginia Tech, Smith picked off a Michael Vick pass while holding talented Hokie WR Andre Davis to just one catch. ” |
With the big wideouts dotting NFL rosters, Smith's strength has to come into play as a key positive. This young man bench presses about 400 pounds, while clocking in the 4.4 to 4.45 range.
Smith was a 1,000-yard rusher at Detroit Central High, and his experience at WR shows that when the opportunity to intercept a pass comes his way, he has the hands to get the job done. And this year, he's proven to be up to the task against quality wideouts.
The NFL team that brings Smith into the fold will have a multi-talented, hard-nosed football player who has proven his worth as a pure cover corner as well as on special teams. There is still a lot of football to be played, but in the early going, there isn't a cornerback in the country who has made as many game-changing plays as the underrated Smith.
One thing is for sure, he's going to be watched and studied very closely throughout the remainder of the 2000 campaign. By the way, circle the date of Oct. 28 on your calendar. That's when the Zips play host to Marshall.
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