2024 NFL Draft: LSU DT Maason Smith sees selection in 'late Round 1' as possibility

LSU defensive tackle Maason Smith grappled with his decision, nearly taking it right down to the deadline for underclassmen to apply for special eligibility in the 2024 NFL Draft. If he was going to return for one final season in Baton Rouge, everything had to be right — unlike how much of his Tigers career had proceeded to that point.

Smith never really, truly had his year in college. And people in his orbit were suggesting what might be possible if he came back.

In 2021, the 6-foot-5, 306-pound player turned heads as a freshman by scoring four sacks in nine games (four starts), earning him recognition as a potential All-SEC contender by the start of 2022. However, during LSU’s seventh defensive play against Florida State in the 2022 opener, Smith jumped to celebrate a teammate’s successful tackle for loss. Upon landing, he was overcome with pain. It turned out, Smith had suffered an ACL tear, effectively ending his season.

“Seven plays in, man,” Smith recently commented over the phone. “This was the first time I had taken a break from football since I was six years old. It sparked some internal struggle for me.”

Smith’s return to the field in 2023 was pushed back one game, thanks to a suspension, reportedly given to him by the NCAA for taking part in an autograph session before NIL rules were enacted (for his part, Smith blamed his decision on a “lack of knowledge” about the situation in comments to the media last September). Even beyond the missed game though, things remained unsettled around Smith and LSU.

First, there were the lingering effects of his injury recovery, which hindered Smith’s explosiveness and lateral-cutting ability. Then, September losses to FSU and Ole Miss all but removed the Tigers from the national title race, in spite of an electric offense spearheaded by eventual Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels.

On top of that was coaching churn, which took its toll on Smith and his fellow defensive linemen. LSU cycled through a whopping six defensive line coaches over his three seasons. In 2021, Andre Carter coached the D-linemen. In 2022, it was Jamar Cain. In 2023, Cain, Gerald Chatman, Jimmy Lindsey, John Jancek and the legendary Pete Jenkins all served in that role at various points.

Stability was scarce. However, Jenkins emerged as a beacon of hope, turning a gifted team into a formidable force by the end of the season. Smith showed versatility, starting in 12 games along the LSU line, and achieved 2.5 sacks. Notably, all of Smith’s sacks occurred after Jenkins was tempted back from retirement. Initially, Jenkins took on a role as an analyst on staff, but eventually returned to take charge of the DL room.

When the deadline to make his decision about the 2024 NFL Draft loomed, Smith faced a conundrum. The former five-star recruit knew he had the talent to play in the NFL. But did he have the résumé?

Smith said he weighed three factors in his decision on the NFL: his own readiness, who would play alongside him at LSU in 2024 and who’d be coaching him with the Tigers. He believed he could make the jump to the pros, talent-wise. Meanwhile, two of his DT running mates, Mekhi Wingo and Jordan Jefferson, were already in the draft. And LSU hired a new defensive coordinator (Blake Baker) and DL coach (Bo Davis) in the days before the deadline.

Essentially, that confirmed Smith’s decision to come out.

Smith said, “The inconsistencies and unknowns were overwhelming. Thus, I believed that progressing to the next stage of my life would be advantageous for me, especially if I could establish some stability.”

I believe that’s all I need in my game to be the best possible version of myself.

Smith stated that he learned discipline at a young age. His mother was a family-medicine practitioner who established her own practice, while his father started his career in the oil industry at “the very bottom” and retired early.

“From a young age, my parents instilled in me the values of hard work and dedication,” said Smith. “I’m lucky to have had their presence and influence throughout my life journey.”

Despite his disciplined lifestyle, Smith occasionally needed to take care of himself. His mother, Cara Morgan, would often leave home at 5 a.m. and not return until after 11 p.m. On the other hand, his father, Malcolm Smith, was frequently overseas for extended periods. From this, Smith deduced that pursuing greatness in any field required full dedication and effort.

“They were each their own bosses, you could say,” Smith said. “They had to work for everything they earned. They both grinded. I saw it. That’s maybe what helped me out the most.”

When Smith experienced an ACL tear at the Caesars Superdome during the 2022 game against FSU, it proved to be useful. Seasons should ideally extend beyond just seven plays.

“It was challenging, both mentally and in terms of confidence,” he stated. “I believe managing self-confidence and maintaining self-identity are the most significant aspects when dealing with an injury. You have to understand that you’re still the same person you were before the injury.”

However, I was fortunate to have an incredible support system around me, not just the wonderful trainers and doctors at LSU, but also my teammates, friends, and family. They all played a crucial role in helping me maintain optimism throughout the challenging process. As a result, I emerged on the other side, learning a lot about myself in the process. There were times when I felt alone, but fortunately, I was mentally prepared for it.

Smith also dedicated more time to reflecting on aspects he hadn’t given much thought to earlier, like the intricate details of film study and maintaining his physical health. He had already faced the challenge of regaining his fitness after his weight spiked to 380 pounds during the COVID-19 crisis, and had managed to lose 52 pounds before starting his freshman year at LSU. However, the ACL injury posed a different challenge. It required him to rebuild his strength and stamina after being away from football for the majority of a year.

Smith’s efforts yielded a significant comeback season in 2023, despite his statistical production not being particularly impressive. However, the positive momentum he built was a reminder to NFL scouts of his vast talent, making him a highly sought-after guest by NFL teams during the pre-draft process.

Smith revealed that he made 13 “top 30” visits to teams including the Saints, Bengals, Steelers, Jets, Giants, Vikings, Bills, Panthers, Packers, Cardinals, Seahawks, Broncos, and Jaguars. In addition to these visits, he had several other meetings at the NFL Scouting Combine and before and after LSU’s pro day. During LSU’s pro day, Smith displayed a strong on-field workout and improved his combine times. His short shuttle time decreased from 4.69 seconds to 4.64, and his three-cone drill time improved from 7.62 seconds to 7.22.

Smith stated that his best pre-draft workout was his final one with the Jaguars before the draft.

“He said, ‘I just attempted to take full advantage of the opportunity. Pour my all into the practice field.'”

It’s to the point where Smith — who was No. 63 on the latest list of the top 150 prospects compiled by NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah — believes he could be a top-50 pick, even a late first-rounder.

“Late Round 1 is certainly possible,” Smith said. “Almost every coach I’ve visited, all 30 of them, believe that I’ll be chosen between picks 20 to 40, or even 25 to 45. So yes, I strongly believe that there’s a high likelihood of that happening for me.”

The class of defensive tackles this year is not seen as particularly strong or full of guaranteed stars. However, Smith is confident that his skills and determination could eventually rank him amongst the top of this group.

“Believe me, I’m well aware of my abilities,” Smith stated. “I never consider myself inferior. I believe that in due time, people will recognize how formidable I can be.”