Can Auburn’s Smith make it in the NFL?

By Robert Rousseau  |   Monday, January 19, 2009  |  Comments( 1 )

Auburn Tigers
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Does ex-Auburn Tigers wide receiver Rodgeriqus Smith have a chance to play in the NFL? It's a tough question to answer, really, but let's find out.

First, his career college stats.

2008: This past season was a disappointment for Smith, just as it was for the entire Auburn team. He followed up a solid 2007 season with only 30 catches for 332 yards and a touchdown. Still, from a career perspective he broke the 100-catch barrier in 2008, a feat that has only been matched by six other players in Auburn history.

2007: Smith caught 52 balls for 705 yards and five touchdowns. In the spring, he was named the team’s Most Improved Offensive Skill Player. Further, the former walk-on managed to get that elusive scholarship he’d been seeking.

2006: Smith pulled in 26 catches for 452 yards and four touchdowns (second on the team in receptions). His four touchdown grabs led the Tigers.

2005: Smith only played in seven games, catching six throws for 109 yards.

Before College: The hardly noticed Smith walked on at Auburn, becoming a big success.

Measurables: The 6-foot, 195-pound Smith runs the 40-yard dash in 4.56 seconds.

Draft prediction: Smith isn’t very tall or fast, so that’s going to hurt him. Additionally, his NFL status was harmed by the season that Auburn’s offense had in 2008, just as many others on the team were. Still, Smith has a lot of heart or he wouldn’t have made it at Auburn in the first place, considering the lack of fanfare that followed him there. What’s more, he has good hands.

In the end, Smith probably won’t be drafted. But he will get the chance, just as he did in college, as a free agent. Can he impress the way he did at Auburn? Guess is that he’ll at least jump on with a practice squad for a period of time. From there, it’s not impossible to think that Smith might become someone’s third or fourth receiver.

Hey, he's surprised before.
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About Robert Rousseau

Robert Rousseau is a sports writer that has been published in a variety of print and online venues. He’s been writing for RealFootball365.com for almost three years now. When Rousseau isn’t writing about college football he tends to be penning mixed martial arts pieces for MMAFighting.com or...
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