Film Room: Keidron Smith

Ever since the 2021 season ended, everyone in or around the Kentucky football program knew that the Wildcats would need immediate help in the secondary for 2022. That would most likely have to come from the transfer portal. On Friday, Keidron Smith became the guy for Mark Stoops and his program.

The Ole Miss transfer committed to the Wildcats as the South Florida native is entering his super senior season in 2022. Secondary coach Chris Collins has another quality player to use, and the SEC transfer could come in and take over a starting position.

Log a transfer recruiting victory for Kentucky over Indiana, Missouri, and Virginia Tech as defensive coordinator Brad White adds a much-needed piece to the defense. Now let’s step into the KSR Film Room to see what Keidron Smith will bring to the table. The transfer is a four-year starter who has size, positional versatility, and the skillset required to succeed in a zone-heavy scheme.

Last season, Kentucky had a remarkable lack of ball production at the cornerback position. Quandre Mosely produced two interceptions and five pass breakups, but starters Cedrick Dort Jr. and Carrington Valentine combined for zero interceptions and just five pass breakups.

In Smith’s four years at Ole Miss, the defensive back collected 21 pass breakups and five interceptions.

Against — arguably — the best offense in college football history, Keidron Smith was able to get the better of Joe Burrow while covering Ja’Marr Chase. Lined up into the boundary, scramble drill takes over as Burrow escapes the pocket. Smith does a good job of staying with the route and getting eyes on the football. The boundary cornerback then finishes the play with an interception. These types of plays went missing from the Kentucky defense in 2021.

When in isolation, Smith’s length is a real attribute. The cornerback can run with most wideouts, but his length gives him some room for error.

After failing to land a clean jam off the release, Smith finds himself trailing on the go-route. However, the cornerback does a great job recovering and getting on top of the route. A combination of speed and length can go a long way in coverage.

As a senior, Ole Miss made some defensive personnel changes under defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin as the Rebels went to a dime look as their main defense. Part of this move meant Keidron Smith had to switch positions. The defensive back spent his last year playing safety and quite often had to be a box defender that helped in run support.

Playing on top of the slot receiver, Keidron Smith does a very good job taking on the block and maintaining outside leverage.

Keeping that leverage forces the quarterback inside after he breaks past the line and allows the cavalry to show up and deliver a blow to the passer. Smith won his assignment with technique, and that is what you would expect from a veteran player.

In four seasons at Ole Miss, Smith logged over 2,000 snaps in 47 games played with 22 starts. The defensive back never missed time with injury and recorded at least 45 tackles in each season. The former low-three star recruit has produced at least one interception every year in college to go along with solid havoc stats — 7 non-sack tackles for loss and 5 forced fumbles — along with the ball production.

The transfer will now head to Kentucky where he could help the defense in multiple roles. Smith’s is qualified to be a boundary cornerback where his size will match up well with opposing X receivers. At that spot, proven ball production should come in handy within the zone scheme used by the Wildcats. However, Kentucky could use him at nickel where his tackling and ability to take on blocks can also be utilized. This is a clear quality SEC starter who could play his way into the draft with a solid fifth year.

Kentucky got better in the secondary with this transfer recruitment.