Florida Atlantic cornerback D'Joun Smith is headed to the Indianapolis Colts after being selected with the 65th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. An athletic cover corner, the former Owl was overlooked nationally playing for a mediocre Conference USA team, but has a real chance to be an impact defensive back at the next level.
NFL Draft results 2015: D’Joun Smith taken by Colts
The cornerback was the first player off the board in the third round of the draft.
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Smith got the attention of pro scouts with a breakout campaign in 2013 when he ranked second in the country in passes defended (20) and tied for third in interceptions (seven). That earned him first-team All-Conference USA honors and put him firmly on the NFL’s radar. Although he didn’t match those numbers in his senior season (one interception, nine passes defended), he still did enough to be selected second team All-Conference USA and named team defensive MVP.
The only FAU player at the combine, Smith tested well by finishing in the top-15 of the 40-yard dash, bench press, 3-cone drill, short 20-yard shuttle and long 60-yard shuttle. He probably showed enough athleticism in Indianapolis to prove that he has the potential to be a solid contributor in the NFL.
Although he measures small at 5’10 and 187 pounds, Smith’s exceptional ball skills and natural instincts allow him to play bigger than his diminutive frame. While there are questions about his lack of top-end speed and whether he can keep up with No. 1 receivers, one scout did mention that he was impressed with Smith’s ability to recover after making mistakes. Smith “has starting talent” according to one draft analyst, and probably fits best as a cornerback in a cover-2 scheme.
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