Mazi Smith Scouting Report
By: Michael Higgins
(Image courtesy of Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Mazi Smith is a former 4-star recruit out of Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he attended East Kentwood High School. Smith was a fringe Top-100 player in the class of 2019. Dominating the state of Michigan, he helped his team reach the state quarterfinals. Mazi Smith started seeing consistent playing time and starts in the 2021 season. He started all 14 games in 2021 and earned All-Big 10 honors. In his 2022 season, Smith was a consensus All-Big 10 First Team member and helped Michigan reach the College Football Playoff. Not only has Smith been a star on the field, but he is also a star in the classroom. Smith was a two-time academic honoree at Michigan.
Smith is the strongest defender in this draft class, he was able to perform 34 bench press reps at the combine. Not only is he able to put up impressive weight room numbers, but that strength shows itself with Smith’s play on the field. Mazi Smith is an elite defender of the run. He may very well be the best run defender in the nation. His ability to bounce off blockers at the line of scrimmage and lunge into a tackle to avoid the ball carrier gaining any yards is second to none. Smith consistently plays at a good pad level and is able to get into the chest of offensive linemen and knock them back off their base. Smith does not work himself too far into the backfield, he is a general in controlling the gaps and leaves the ball carrier with no room to breathe at the line of scrimmage. Clogging gaps and giving runners nowhere to go along the line is Smith’s specialty. Smith is quick and agile for his size and can react to movements well in order to make a tackle. While primarily being set up in the 1-technique in order to stop the run, Smith can also partake in the pass rush. Lining up at both 1-tech and 3-tech on obvious passing downs, Smith has the speed and functional strength to rush the passer from the interior. He does not just rely on his strength to beat linemen on pass rush sets, he has a variety of pass rushing moves. These moves include an elite swim move that Smith uses most often. Smith has powerful and violent hands that look like cinder blocks in action. He has heavy hands due to his sheer strength and it often is too much for linemen to keep up with. Smith’s athleticism and strength are enough to classify him as a freak of nature.
Mazi Smith does not have favorable arm length at the line. It will not necessarily be a huge disadvantage as he does not have extremely short arms, but you may look for longer arms out of a guy on the defensive line. Smith also has a tendency to second guess himself at the line of scrimmage. Hesitation in his steps can be seen when he is trying to decide what angles to take to the ball carrier.
Mazi Smith has potential to be a 1-tech who can see around 75% of snaps. He needs to develop into a more consistent pass rusher but his potential in both pass and run defense is evident. He will instantly be a vital piece to a team’s run defense and can quickly work his way into being an effective pass rusher.
Scheme Fit: Even Front
Ideal Role: 1-tech
Best Team Fits: ATL, SEA, HOU
Player Comparison: DJ Reader
Player Grade: 79.8
