Scouting Report
Approved · Oct 20, 2026Darius Smith
Overall grade
- 0-49Undetermined
- 50-59D-III / Dev
- 60-69D-II / NAIA
- 70-74FCS
- 75-84Group of 5
- 85-89Power 4
- 90-94Blue Chip
- 95-100Elite / Top 100
Smooth, instinctive running back with a long stride, big-play ability, and excellent change of direction. Listed at 5-foot-10, 180 pounds. He will need to keep adding quality mass to his frame while maintaining or improving his athleticism as he matures in order to hold up as a primary back at the college level. He is off to a strong start as a junior, rushing for 669 yards and 10 touchdowns through seven games. He is averaging a stout 8.9 yards per carry and over 95 yards per game, with four 100-yard outings in seven contests. He has lined up at…
Top Attributes
- Vision and natural instincts - Long stride and play speed - Change of direction - Pad level on contact
Areas to Develop
- Adding mass to hold up as a feature back - Consistency as a pass catcher - Continuing to add speed
Film Review Notes
Fluid, instinctive back who processes the game naturally and plays fast. Eyes and feet work together, reading leverage and cutting decisively off of what he sees. Shows surprising feet in the hole for a long-strider, redirecting without having to slow down. Opens up a smooth stride once he hits the second level and pulls away on weaving touchdown runs. Flashes a quick juke in space and in tight quarters. Runs with more power than his size suggests, shrugging off tackle attempts and dropping his pads through contact in short yardage. Catches the ball well in a limited sample with flashes of good form, but needs to be wary of body-catching.
Graded Skills
0–10 Scale
- 7.9Size
- 8.4Instincts/vision
- 8.2Burst/acceleration
- 8.5Change of direction
- 8.2Top-end speed
- 8.1Footwork
- 8.3Inside run
- 7.7Outside run
- 8.1Physicality/tackle breaking
- 7.5Pass catching