Texas Football: 5 players whose stock is soaring ahead of 2019 season

There’s two key points for the chatter surrounding highly touted true freshman wide receiver Jake Smith entering the 2019 regular season. The first is the fact that he was getting reps at running back in the final stretch of fall practice and during the last scrimmage about a week and a half ago. Could we see Smith lining up in the backfield often alongside the quarterback against Louisiana Tech?

The second key point for Smith is his impact on the return game. Smith will be a starting return man on both the kick and punt teams. The dynamic playmaking ability he showed on offense and special teams at Notre Dame Prep in Arizona will be put to the test from the get go.

Smith will also sit on the depth chart behind senior wide receiver Devin Duvernay, playing in the slot. He could be a great change of pace playmaker for Herman really anywhere off the line of scrimmage or in the backfield. Smith has that electric skill set that makes him dangerous at really any point on the field when the ball is in his hands.

With the running back room thinning out due to various injuries in fall camp, Smith’s use in Week 1 could come from just about anywhere. He was also very impressive in the exposure he did during summer workouts and fall camp. His stock was rising heading into National Signing Day 2019 and continued to do so throughout the offseason.