Junior linebacker Yawin Smallwood of Connecticut has already declared for the 2014 NFL Draft (Photo: courant.com)
DraftBrowns.com Staff Writer: Justin Higdon
Despite a 13-23 record over the past three seasons, the University of Connecticut has produced a number of solid defensive prospects in recent years. In 2012, defensive lineman Kendall Reyes was selected in the second round of the draft, then last year defensive backs Dwayne Gratz and Blidi Wreh-Wilson, and linebackers Sio Moore and Trevardo Williams were all taken within the top 125 picks. Their former teammate, linebacker Yawin Smallwood, hopes to follow in their footsteps, and has recently finalized his decision to forgo his senior season and enter the draft.
Yawin Smallwood ILB Connecticut 6’3” 236
Smallwood redshirted during his first year on campus in 2010, but started all 12 games as a redshirt freshman the following season. He’s gone on to log 36 starts in three seasons with the Huskies. As a sophomore, he finished second on the team to Moore with 15 tackles for loss. Smallwood has added four sacks and two forced fumbles in each of the last two seasons. He efforts earned him First Team All-Big East as a sophomore and First Team All-AAC as a junior.
An excellent run defender, Smallwood shows good instincts in diagnosing plays quickly, picking his way through traffic, and taking strong angles toward the ball carrier. He uses his strength to fight off, and through blocks to disrupt plays, and he has proven to be difficult to handle one-on-one. Smallwood gives consistent effort, and when he does get locked up he continues to fight through the whistle. He also does an outstanding job of keeping the action in front of him, and not allowing himself to be drawn in too far or to be taken out of position to make a play.
Smallwood’s anticipation and athleticism make him an effective blitzer, and his power make him a mismatch for running backs in pass protection. If he isn’t able to get all the way to the quarterback, he will get up with his hands raised in an effort to clutter the passing lanes. Smallwood’s effectiveness in pass coverage also helps him stand out. He has a good feel for when to drop, does well to read the quarterbacks’ eyes, and has enough speed to stick with running backs and athletic tight ends. Between his coverage assignments and batted balls, Smallwood had a hand in breaking up nine passes this past season.
Home for the holidays with his intentions laid out clearly, Smallwood is free to prepare for the draft. In the meantime, he has left behind some impressive game film that exhibits the type of versatility coaches crave in inside linebackers. A relative paucity of three down prospects at his position could enhance his draft value, and Smallwood could ultimately find his way into the top 50 or 60 picks.
Vs. Rutgers (’12)
- Takes a step back into coverage but the recognizes the run and flows down the line to make the stop after a short gain
- Gets down the line and fights off a block from the RT
- Loses track of his man in coverage when the QB juggles the snap
- Fires in to make a run stop at the line of scrimmage (LOS) and slams the runner down – good strength countering the leg drive and stopping the RB’s momentum
- Good read and react – holds his ground to make a run stop at the LOS in short yardage
- Closes quickly in the WR in front of him but doesn’t wrap up and allows yards after the catch (YAC)
- Always making an effort to get to the ball – there to clean up the play if needed
- Blocked by the G but never quits on the pass rush and winds up getting a hit on the QB just as he lets go – came in high and may have drawn a flag
- Gets pressure up the middle and gets his hands up to disrupt the passing lane
- Gets in on a tackle at the LOS and then on a tackle for loss (TFL) – both run plays
- Picks his way through traffic and makes a TFL
- Stout at the LOS and makes a run stop
- Splits the OL and knifes into the backfield for a TFL
Vs. Louisville (’12)
- Nice job in coverage sticking to his assignment – passes off the TE crossing and picks up the RB in the flat
- Reads run all the way and closes in quickly into the backfield for a TFL
- Gets locked up by a block in kick coverage
- Closes and makes the tackle immediately on a crossing route
- Gets off the block and makes the tackle on a six yard run
- Reads a run off the RT and forces the RB back inside for a short gain
- Locked up by the G but fighting very hard and showing some strength
- Reads the short slant and gets in on the tackle after a short gain
- Flies in on a blitz and gets pressure up the middle
- Really tight coverage on a crossing route and takes his man out of the play
- Reads run wide off the RT and gets into the backfield for a TFL
- Picks his way through trash to make a tackle at the LOS
- Reads the outside run off LT and closes quickly to make another TFL
- Shows good speed chasing down a long catch and run down the near sideline (SL)
- Used in coverage dropping back and keeping the action in front of him
- Gets down the LOS and wraps up the ball carrier but gets dragged for a few yards until help arrives
- Really does well to keep the play in front of him
- Gets drawn too far in on a middle screen and allows a sizable gain
- Picked up on a blitz up the middle
- Gets into the passing lane and up in the air to disrupt the QB’s sight line on a late INT
Vs. Maryland (’13)
- Takes a step forward but then drops back into coverage on the TE and breaks up a pass – almost gets an INT
- Slides to his right and makes a tackle on a run play after a short gain
- Fights off a block and plugs a lane to make a tackle after a one yard gain
- Draws a double team and gets washed out on a ten-plus yard run
- Uses his strength to toss aside a FB trying to land a block
- Offers good size in the middle of the D
- Shows good instincts dropping into coverage on the RB and taking him out of the play
- Reads and pursues down the line to make a solo tackle on an outside run – saves a big gain
- Showing a good sense of knowing where the ball is going in coverage – reading the QB’s eyes
- Closes quickly on a ball in front of him and breaks up a short pass to the RB
- Reads the run off RT immediately and closes quickly – forces the run wide and gets the low tackle near the LOS
- Takes the bait on a run fake by the QB on a run away from his side
- Reads the QB keep and forces him wide but gets picked up by a blocker
- Fights his way into the backfield and disrupts the play but can’t make the tackle
- Sifting through the trash and being stout at the LOS
- Gets off a block to his right and fights back inside to make the tackle near the LOS
Vs. Michigan (’13)
- Reads the run off RT and fights through his blocker – pushes his man into the runner
- Gets caught on his heels and almost gets shaken but makes a dive at the RB’s feet
- Closes in on the QB run and makes the tackle at the LOS
- Holds his ground well in the open field
- Battles through a block by the G and gets pressure up the middle
- Doesn’t bite on the play fake and forces the QB to roll back to his left – play results in a sack
- Fights off a block from the TE and gets in on a tackle
- Good angle in pursuit on a QB run away from him
- Comes on the blitz up the middle and gets over the block of the RB to get pressure and force a sack
- Knifes into the backfield and forces the run back to the middle
- Reads the run wide off LT and maintains his position to make a TFL
- Closes on a run wide off RT and gets hit with a stiff arm – still slows the run and forces the stop
- Gets off his block and navigates his way down the line but can’t make the stop on what turns into a long TD run
- Drops back by closes quickly when he recognizes the QB taking off – gets the sack
- Gets down the line and gets a big hit to knock the ball loose and stop the runner short of a first down
- Flows down to make a tackle at the left SL and flings the runner out of bounds