5 reasons NFL fans should watch Georgia LB Roquan Smith vs. Auburn

The NFL linebacker of today isn’t the same downhill thumper of decades past. To be successful at the position, a linebacker needs to be fast enough to run with receivers and strong enough to shed blocks and knife through traffic to make plays in the backfield.

Georgia’s Roquan Smith looks like he can be that player.

At 6’1, 225 pounds, Smith would be one of the smaller linebackers in the 2018 NFL Draft class if he chooses to forgo his senior season and hit the professional ranks. But he’s been one of the most effective in the college ranks and will likely appear on the AP All-American roster in December.

Entering the 2017 SEC Championship against Auburn, Smith has 8.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and 100 total tackles in 12 games. With high stakes on the line in a championship that will have CFB Playoff ramifications, there’s plenty of reason for any football fan to tune in.

But for those looking for the next NFL star at linebacker, Smith is a name you should get to know:

Instinctive enough to diagnose a play quickly? Check.

Fast enough to make plays sideline to sideline? Check.

Tough enough to run downhill and deliver big hits? Check.

Whatever you want Smith to do in your defense, the Georgia linebacker has shown he’s up for the task. ESPN’s College GameDay are among the many who took notice:

His 6’1 frame may be the biggest obstacle he has to overcome, although other linebackers once considered undersized — like Bobby Wagner of the Seattle Seahawks and Telvin Smith of the Jacksonville Jaguars — have dispelled the belief that a successful linebacker needs to be built in the 6’4, 258-pound Brian Urlacher mold.

In the latest mock draft from SB Nation’s Dan Kadar, Smith is the first linebacker off the board to the Dallas Cowboys at pick No. 15:

Without Sean Lee, the defense for the Cowboys is seriously hindered. Unfortunately, he just can’t stay healthy, so Dallas needs to find either a replacement or a player who can slot into the system. Smith is a natural fit, and he would bolster the pass coverage.

The only other linebackers in the first round of Kadar’s mock are Malik Jefferson of Texas and Rashaan Evans of Alabama, who come off the board at picks No. 22 and 28, respectively.

Like most NFL draft prospects, Smith’s talent was obvious in high school. Enough to earn him a four-star designation and a top 50 spot in 247 Sports’ rankings, but there was some signing day drama for the linebacker.

Smith committed to UCLA during a televised ceremony on National Signing Day, but didn’t sign his National Letter of Intent because news quickly broke that Bruins defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was taking a job with the Atlanta Falcons.

After a few days, Smith signed with Georgia instead.

It was worth the wait for the Bulldogs and his success hasn’t been surprising to those who watched him in college, including SB Nation’s Bud Elliott:

Smith is one of the most athletic linebacker recruits in the country. And he needs to be, because at 6’2 and 201 pounds (Atlanta Nike Camp measurements), he is not very big. The first thing Smith will need in college is a lot of time in the weight room. He simply must get stronger at the point of attack.

But top schools who typically prefer bigger players are after Smith because he has the athleticism to make up for his marginal size.

That marginal size didn’t stop Smith in the SEC.

When Smith starts rolling downhill, he’s an incoming missile.

Even reporters on the sideline are in danger.

NFL fans looking for talent unfortunately won’t get the chance to watch the Auburn offense with a healthy Kerryon Johnson at running back, but there’s still plenty of talent to watch.

Auburn guard Braden Smith is one of the best offensive lineman of the senior class and Georgia’s pass rushing duo of Lorenzo Carter and Davin Bellamy are much of the reason the Bulldogs are able to be so creative with their usage of Smith.

On top of all of that, it’s the SEC Championship. You don’t want to miss that.