Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Nolan Smith really turned heads at the 2023 NFL combine in Indianapolis, Indiana. Smith displayed his leadership skills during interviews on March 1.
The 6-foot-2, 238-pound pass rusher showed off his explosive lower body with a 41.5-inch vertical jump. Only three linebackers have ever recorded a higher vertical jump in NFL combine history (one of them is former Georgia linebacker Channing Tindall).
Smith ran the fastest 40-yard dash of any linebacker at the combine with a time of 4.39 seconds. Nolan Smith is the heaviest player to have a vertical jump over 40 inches and a 40-yard dash under 4.4 seconds.
Now, Nolan Smith is receiving comparisons to one of the NFL’s best pass rushers, Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick. Reddick recorded 16 sacks for the Eagles last season and is a big reason Philadelphia made the Super Bowl.
Why is Smith being compared to Reddick? Reddick is a 6-foot-1, 235-pound linebacker with a similar frame to Smith. Reddick is a bit undersized, but is still a high-impact player.
Both Nolan Smith and Haason Reddick have had times where there productivity may not jump off the chart. Reddick recorded just 7.5 sacks over his first three seasons in the NFL. Smith recorded 12.5 sacks in his four season career at Georgia. Reddick’s sack production has been outstanding after his first three NFL seasons. He has 39.5 sacks over his last three NFL seasons.
Highly respected NFL draft expert Daniel Jeremiah compared Smith to Reddick before Smith ran his incredible 40-yard dash. Smith and Reddick have similar sizes. Both players best fit as 3-4 outside linebackers in the NFL.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) March 2, 2023
Additionally, Next Gen Stats pointed out that Smith and Reddick had similar builds, athleticism and production coming out of college.
Georgia EDGE Nolan Smith enters the 2023 NFL Draft with a similar profile to Haason Reddick.
Nolan Smith ('23)
🔹 6'2 1/4", 238 lbs, 32 5/8" arm
🔹 78 Production ScoreHaason Reddick ('17)
🔹 6'1 1/2", 237 lbs, 32 3/4" arm
🔹 77 Production Score pic.twitter.com/uGyoReKBZn— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 3, 2023
