Tennessee football: Trey Smith gets highest draft grade of any senior
There’s a lot of love for Tennessee football Volunteers offensive lineman Trey Smith.
Back in the winter, Tennessee football offensive lineman Trey Smith shocked the world when he announced his intentions to return for his senior season instead of entering the NFL Draft. With that decision, he enters his final year with a ton of hype.
On MMQB Monday, Albert Breer of SI.com noted Smith is the highest graded senior based on the scouting scale used by NFS. With a grade of 6.91, Smith is between a late first/second rounder and simply a first-rounder.
At 6’6″ 335 pounds, the Jackson, Tenn. native has played tackle and guard for Tennessee football, but his primary position is guard. In the two seasons he played guard, he was named First-Team All-SEC both times. Here is what Breer said about Smith.
"Smith is a great story—he came back from a significant issue with blood clots in 2018—and a really, really good prospect. If he’s what he was in 2019, and he was first-team All-SEC last year, he’s a good bet to go in the first round."
Related Story. 10 toughest Vols to replace for 2020. light
More from Vols Football
- How to Win a GUARANTEED $200 Bonus Betting Just $5 on the Vols vs. Florida!
- Tennessee Football at Florida: Five Keys to a Vols Victory
- Week 3 SEC Power Rankings: Did Tennessee Football’s Win Help At All?
- Week 3 AP Polls: Why Did Tennessee Football Drop in the Polls?
- Tennessee Football: Top Five Performers in 30-13 Win vs. Austin Peay
Of course, the blood clots are the story with Smith. Had he been fully healthy and stayed at guard, he may have earned All-American honors. His sophomore year, in 2018, was the one year he played tackle. Honestly, he was en route to an All-SEC season that year as well, though, until the blood clots kept him out beginning in November.
This year, Smith is part of a veteran returning line, which will likely only improve his draft stock. Brandon Kennedy, Wanya Morris, Darnell Wright and Riley Locklear are all returning starters. K’Rojhn Calbert, Jerome Carvin and Jahmir Johnson are returning rotational players. Georgia Bulldogs transfer Cade Mays has been added to that rotation as well.
Because of all of that help, Smith has an even better chance to thrive at the position. He won’t have to worry as much about helping out at tackle, which as an issue last year with two freshmen getting the starting nods at those positions.
Next. Vols' top 25 single-game performances in history. dark
Taking that into account, Tennessee football may very well have the best senior in the nation for 2020. Smith has gone from being the sole bright spot on the worst team in history to the leader of a program on the rise under Jeremy Pruitt. Provided he stays healthy, he is destined for great things this season.