Hogs Haven takes a look at 2025 NFL Draft prospects that could contribute to the Commanders
Brashard Smith, RB
School: SMU | Conference: ACC
College Experience: Senior | Age: 21
Height / Weight: 5’9” / 195 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 4th-7th Round
Player Comparison: Justice Hill
College Statistics
| Rushing | Receiving | Scrimmage | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Att | Yds | Y/A | TD | Y/G | Rec | Yds | Y/R | TD | Y/G | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD | Awards |
| 2021 | Miami (FL) | ACC | FR | WR | 12 | 6 | 23 | 3.8 | 0 | 1.9 | 14 | 199 | 14.2 | 2 | 16.6 | 20 | 222 | 11.1 | 2 | |
| 2022 | Miami (FL) | ACC | SO | WR | 11 | 3 | 22 | 7.3 | 0 | 2.0 | 33 | 308 | 9.3 | 0 | 28.0 | 36 | 330 | 9.2 | 0 | |
| 2023* | Miami (FL) | ACC | JR | WR | 12 | 9 | 132 | 14.7 | 1 | 11.0 | 22 | 263 | 12.0 | 2 | 21.9 | 31 | 395 | 12.7 | 3 | |
| 2024 | SMU | ACC | SR | RB | 14 | 235 | 1332 | 5.7 | 14 | 95.1 | 39 | 327 | 8.4 | 4 | 23.4 | 274 | 1659 | 6.1 | 18 | |
| Career | 49 | 253 | 1509 | 6.0 | 15 | 30.8 | 108 | 1097 | 10.2 | 8 | 22.4 | 361 | 2606 | 7.2 | 23 | |||||
| Miami (FL) (3 Yrs) | 35 | 18 | 177 | 9.8 | 1 | 5.1 | 69 | 770 | 11.2 | 4 | 22.0 | 87 | 947 | 10.9 | 5 | |||||
| SMU (1 Yr) | 14 | 235 | 1332 | 5.7 | 14 | 95.1 | 39 | 327 | 8.4 | 4 | 23.4 | 274 | 1659 | 6.1 | 18 | |||||
| Kick Returns | Punt Returns | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Ret | Yds | Y/Ret | KRTD | Ret | Yds | Y/Ret | PRTD | APYd | Awards |
| 2021 | Miami (FL) | ACC | FR | WR | 12 | 8 | 146 | 18.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 368 | ||
| 2022 | Miami (FL) | ACC | SO | WR | 11 | 11 | 250 | 22.7 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 6.3 | 0 | 599 | |
| 2023* | Miami (FL) | ACC | JR | WR | 12 | 20 | 579 | 29.0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 0 | 979 | |
| 2024 | SMU | ACC | SR | RB | 14 | 14 | 320 | 22.9 | 0 | 1 | -2 | -2.0 | 0 | 1977 | |
| Career | 49 | 53 | 1295 | 24.4 | 1 | 5 | 22 | 4.4 | 0 | 3923 | |||||
| Miami (FL) (3 Yrs) | 35 | 39 | 975 | 25.0 | 1 | 4 | 24 | 6.0 | 0 | 1946 | |||||
| SMU (1 Yr) | 14 | 14 | 320 | 22.9 | 0 | 1 | -2 | -2.0 | 0 | 1977 | |||||
Player Overview
Brashard Smith was one of the best players in the country as a high schooler. He was ranked in the top 200 of prospects in the country, not at running back, but as a wide receiver. The Florida native rejected offers from the likes of Oregon, Alabama, and Penn State, choosing to stay close to home and attend Miami. In three years with the Hurricanes, Smith had respectable production on offense, mostly at receiver, but stood out as a kick returner and earned All-ACC honors as a specialist. He entered the transfer portal, deciding on SMU for his senior season. He made the switch from receiver to running back in Dallas and his production took off. Smith earned First Team All-ACC honors after a season with almost 2,000 all-purpose yards and 18 total touchdowns.
Strengths
- Vision to find open space is impressive
- Accelerates through holes and into second level
- Long speed sufficient for taking runs the distance
- Runs routes downfield, displaying excellent hands
- Special teams value as a kick returner
Weaknesses
- Smaller build for the position
- Needs to be more patient and wait for blocks to develop
- Lacks physicality for tough runs between tackles
- Pass protection needs to improve
- Only one year of production at running back
Let’s See His Work
We are counting down the Fastest 5 Players of #CFB Week !
1. @SMUFB, RB, Brashard Smith
Mustangs are weekly regulars 22.1 MPH @BrashardS #PonnyUpDallas #PonyUp #SMUFB pic.twitter.com/uyssakn1Si
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) November 4, 2024
ONLY Running Back with 85+ Rushing & Receiving Grades:
Brashard Smith, SMU@SMUFB pic.twitter.com/RJ8jYeLSn2
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 4, 2024
How He Fits on the Commanders
With Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez, Jr. both set to be free agents, the Commanders will likely look to add a running back this offseason. With the team having Brian Robinson, Jr. and Austin Ekeler signed for another season, the team could look for a do-it-all back, a bruiser in the mold of Robinson, or a change-of-pace back like Ekeler.
Brashard Smith could provide that change of pace for the Commanders’ backfield. Not only does he have the ability to take a handoff the distance, but he’s a reliable receiving threat that can run a variety of routes. He could be a long-term replacement for Ekeler, but Smith will have to get a little stronger to make positive yardage between tackles. I’m not sure if Smith will become a RB1, but he can certainly be a productive RB2 that can create a lot of mismatches with his pass-catching ability.