22 Players in 22 Days: #3 Ainias Smith

Position: Wide Receiver
Classification: Senior
Hometown: Sugar Land, TX
Listed Height: 5’10”
Listed Weight: 190 lbs.

Key notes from Olin’s thoughts on Smith

• Ainias Smith is the heart of maybe the entire team. He’s a guy that leads by example and verbally. I go back to the Mississippi State game where Zach Calzada took a safety and ended the game. Smith went up to him right after and talked to him. That’s what a great leader and teammate does. But also, he produces.
   
• Ainias is honest. When he was playing running back, he said he likes playing receiver more. You can use him wherever. He’s so versatile. He will make big plays. He’s a threat on punt returns.
   
• He’s an electric blanket. A couple of years ago playing Auburn, he made a deep catch that led to a touchdown and solidified that win. Look at what he did against Alabama last year.
   
• I think his production was limited to the guy throwing to him. If I had to bet on someone to have the most catches, it would be him. If you need a completion, he’s so hard to cover out of the slot. I think his receptions go up in the mid to high 50s. Chase Lane is healthy. Evan Stewart may have 20-30 receptions. I see 35 receptions as the ceiling. They said they will throw deep more.
   
• I dont know what his straight-line speed is. He reminds me of Kadarius Toney out of Florida in 2020. If you want a real good football player that will produce, that’s Ainias Smith. He’ll go down there and block when Devon Achane is running downfield. He does what football players are supposed to do.