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Lecitus Smith NFL Draft Profile
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Lecitus Smith Scouting ReportLecitus possesses good burst and power at the point of attack, and glimpses of explosive twitch show up in open space. In addition to his steady acceleration, Smith also flashes exceptional lateral mobility. He can traverse gaps and block on the move with ease, providing value as a pulling guard. In a phone booth, Smith’s athleticism shows up in different ways. He has a degree of torso flexibility and absorption capacity, even with his stout frame. His strong base helps him cushion and absorb opposing power. Additionally, he’s able to gather himself after initial losses with his natural balance, strength, and contortion potential. Lecitus flashes impressive weight-transfer ability, and he shows off plenty of synergy between his upper and lower body. Furthermore, Smith has good stamina. His play doesn’t noticeably falter as games go on, and some of his strongest reps occur later. He is an aggressive competitor who consistently blocks all the way to the final whistle. He has the urgency to stack blocks when moving to the second level, and he finishes smaller opponents with relative ease. When Smith latches on, he can impose his power en masse, and he has the mauler mentality to send defenders into the dirt Lecitus has impressive leg drive. That leg drive, along with his grip strength, allows him to anchor and drive off defenders in motion. Smith also keeps his shoulders square toward his targets, and he has the awareness to pick up blitzes and stunts. |
Areas for ImprovementSmith’s length is not a strong part of his profile. It’s not necessarily a liability, but some linemen will outreach him on the interior. He doesn’t always reach the contact point first, and because of this, Smith sometimes tries to force the issue by leaning. Smith’s lacking reach sometimes prevents him from finishing defenders or paving open lanes. It also impedes Smith’s ability to maintain anchors. Longer rushers can manipulate angles more easily against Smith’s wingspan, and his lacking length limits the amount of power his hands can carry as conduits. Smith sometimes prematurely extends his arms, negating potential energy. He can be more consistent keeping his elbows in, maximizing that energy, and increasing the amount of force directed at defenders. His hands don’t always strike cleanly when blocking in motion, and players who can get outside his frame can knock him off-balance.
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Lecitus Smith Career at SchoolWhen he arrived at Virginia Tech, Smith was still going through his transition from tight end to offensive lineman. Listed at 6’3″, 276 pounds upon the start of the 2017 season, Smith redshirted — intent on readying himself for his first opportunity in 2018. In 2018, Smith came back as a new player at a new position. He was 313 pounds — 60 pounds heavier than his high school days. And quickly, he accrued experience in his new role. Smith played 11 games in 2018, starting four, and he would leverage that experience into a starting job the following year. Heading into 2021, Smith had started 23 straight games at left guard. He was an All-ACC honorable mention selection in 2019 and 2020, and he repeated that production in 2021. Now, Smith is on to the NFL Draft. He’ll have to distinguish himself at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine. But he can be a potential starter with his traits.
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Lecitus Smith NFL Draft Player ProfileLength is a definite concern for Smith, and that may slightly limit his upside at the NFL level. Having said this, length isn’t quite as important for guards as it is for tackles. Even with his average length, Smith still has a number of appealing traits inside. He’s strong, naturally well-leveraged, and aggressive. Furthermore, Smith is athletic enough to make blocks on the move. Smith is powerful enough to be coveted by teams with power-oriented schemes, but he’s an impressive athlete for his frame. He possesses the width and burl of a power blocker but the mobility and urgency to provide value in zone concepts. To tie it all together, Smith’s mauler mentality ensures that he finishes plays from start to finish. Overall, Smith is a strong prospect, and he can easily go on Day 2 in April.
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