Jakore Smith a Sign of Momentum for Oklahoma Football?
Just two days after landing the commitment of Niko Jandreau the Sooners landed another long-term target on the defensive side of the ball. That player, of course, came in the form of Bryant, Ark. linebacker Jakore Smith. The former teammate of current Sooners freshman safety Omarion Robinson may have a new home at Bryant but never wavered about his interest in Oklahoma.
It’s time to take a look at what made him a priority for the Sooners through over a year or pursuit and two different linebackers coaches.
What’s on Tape for Jakore Smith
In Jakore Smith the Sooners find a linebacker who bears some real resemblance to soon-to-be Oklahoma football three-year starter Kip Lewis. Not only does he have the speed and sideline to sideline to ability that Lewis is well known for. He’s also a similar type of player in that he is consistently around the ball and doesn’t simply impact the game in one way.
At 6-foot-1 and 195-pounds it’s easy to wonder about his ability between the tackles. But when you watch Smith work he shows no hesitancy at mixing it up and working in the trenches. That’s not to say he’s foolish or tries to win battles he’s unlikely to but he doesn’t shy away from trouble.
Within that work near the line of scrimmage he shows a natural ability as a pass rusher. When he doesn’t get to the quarterback he’s smart about getting his hands into passing lane. Using that tactic he even created an interception in the game we saw in person against Melissa, Texas.
Sure, he’s not the biggest linebacker in the country but Smith is very active and can cover space, and works well in pass coverage. There’s plenty to work with and with his length and frame, he seems to have room to grow into a more prototypically built SEC linebacker.
OU Commit Comparison
Lewis is an easy one but honestly he’s a bit more of an in the box player than Kip was in high school. He actually is somewhat reminiscent of a Brent Venables pursuit of years gone by, Corey Nelson.
