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Reese’s Senior Bowl: 15 2019 NFL Draft prospects worth watching

By Andrew Miller

KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 17: Drew Lock #3 of the Missouri Tigers hugs his mother in the stands during the second half of the game between the Missouri Tigers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Missouri won the game 50-17. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 17: Drew Lock #3 of the Missouri Tigers hugs his mother in the stands during the second half of the game between the Missouri Tigers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Missouri won the game 50-17. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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SYRACUSE, NY – NOVEMBER 09: Jaylen Smith #9 of the Louisville Cardinals drops a pass during the second quarter against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome on November 9, 2018 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY – NOVEMBER 09: Jaylen Smith #9 of the Louisville Cardinals drops a pass during the second quarter against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome on November 9, 2018 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

With high expectations entering the 2018 campaign, senior Louisville Cardinals wide receiver Jaylen Smith needed to help ease the quarterback transition between Lamar Jackson and Jawon Pass. However, a Louisville offense that was supposed to recover to some degree under former head coach Bobby Petrino did nothing of the sort in 2018.

By season’s end, Louisville got rid or Petrino and was one of the ACC’s worst teams and most inefficient through the air. Pass finished the season with only eight touchdown passes and 12 interceptions. That wasn’t the fault of Smith, though, whose down season was mostly a product of poor circumstances.

That doesn’t mean that Smith won’t have to prove himself more than we first thought entering the 2018 regular season. Some anticipated Smith to be one of the top 10 wide receivers in this class. At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds and with excellent leaping ability, Smith has the physical tools to be a solid receiver in the NFL.

The fact that he posted just 550 receiving yards and one touchdown after two very solid seasons in 2016 and 2017 makes scouting events and showcase games like this pivotal for Smith. The main goal for Smith is to “generate NFL Draft buzz” like he had entering the 2018 off-season.

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