2009 has not been kind to Andre Smith.
His year got off to a rotten start, as he was suspended from the University of Alabama’s embarrassing Sugar Bowl loss to Utah. This incident caused questions about his character to surface, and the offensive tackle who had at one point been thought of as a potential no. 1 overall pick was suddenly on the defensive.
He didn’t help his cause any by showing up to the NFL scouting combine out of shape, then refusing to take part in drills before leaving the combine altogether without informing anyone. In just two months, Smith had gone from the draft’s hottest prospect to its most dangerous, as projections began to put Smith somewhere late in the first round.
Since then, however, teams appear to be warming back up to the mercurial lineman. They are remembering how dominant Smith was on the field last season, playing a huge role in the Crimson Tide’s surprise run to the top of the polls. They are remembering his unreal size-quickness combination, that the 6’4”, 332-pounder mauled defenders in the running game and was an impenetrable wall in keeping quarterback John Parker Wilson upright in the passing game.
Recently, Alabama head coach Nick Saban, the same coach who suspended Smith for the Sugar Bowl, has come to Smith’s defense, saying that as a player he always acted the right way and worked hard to improve. These words, coming from a coach known for being hard-nosed and difficult to please, are reassuring teams attracted by Smith’s talent but nervous about his recent questionable behavior.
Smith’s ability to keep his weight in check will definitely be a concern as he develops as a tackle in the NFL. It is believed that as of right now he could be a real force at right tackle, but that he’s not quite quick enough to play the highly valued left tackle position. If he stays in shape and capitalizes on his impressive size-quickness ratio, teams aren’t going to care at all about the time he got himself suspended for a bowl game or the time he left the combine early.
And if he does all those things, and gets himself drafted early on in the first round, 2009 might not end up being such a bad year for Andre Smith after all.
Latest on Smith
Alabama coach Nick Saban recently defended Smith as a player.
ESPN’s Todd McShay predicts that Smith will be taken no. 9 by the Green Bay Packers in his latest mock draft.
Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis described his recent meeting with Smith as positive.
Smith on the Web
Alabama Profile: Stats and personal information
Article on Smith’s Sugar Bowl suspension
ESPN Draft Profile: Measurables and stats
