Ainias Smith might be A&M's most intriguing prospect in the 2024 draft

Nineteen former Texas A&M football players tried to impress scouts from all 32 NFL teams on Tuesday at Pro Day.

Some, of course, already have made a big impression.

Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper shone at the NFL Combine last month and made a strong case for being considered a first- or second-round selection.

Defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson did, too. Word is he could go as high as the third round of next month’s NFL Draft.

But of all those working out in hopes of getting an opportunity to play at the highest level of football competition, the most intriguing is versatile receiver/punt returner Ainias Smith, who was understandably proud of his Pro Day performance.

"I feel like I did smooth," Smith said. "Honestly, I didn't really get the times that I wanted (in the 40-yard dash). I was hearing in the range of high 4.4s [and] low 4.5s.

"I felt like I did pretty well in the drills. Did well doing running back and receiver. Also, got some punt catches in early, so I feel like I had a pretty smooth day, overall."

If Smith's times were indeed in the 4.4-4.5 range, that should ensure he gets picked in the draft. The question is which round.

Yet, as he mentioned, Smith was disappointed.

He feels he can run faster. And maybe he can.

Smith went to the NFL Combine with a sore left leg. An MRI performed there revealed a stress fracture in his left shin.

"I felt like there was something in my leg," Smith recalled. "I didn't really know what it was. I was treating it like shin splints or a bone bruise this whole time. Once they told me I needed to get an MRI, a CT, I was a little nervous they would find something."

The stress fracture still is not fully healed. To Smith's relief, scouts at Pro Day indicated they understood he was at a disadvantage.

"With me being a little disappointed in my numbers, they were telling me that it was all smooth because I'm running on a broken leg," he said, admitting his knee was throbbing.

Smith predicted that, when healthy, he could run a 4.3 or even a 4.2. That may be a bit ambitious, but on the other hand, why doubt him?

The Missouri City native always exceeded expectations.

He came to A&M as a three-star recruit from Fort Bend Dulles High School and left with 180 receptions, 2,407 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns.

Smith also averaged 10.2 yards on 82 punt returns and had two touchdowns.

He earned first-team All-Southeastern Conference acclaim as an all-purpose performer.

When he couldn't run at the Combine, Smith still opted to participate in the bench press. The 5-foot-9, 190-pounder completed 21 reps of 225 pounds, which is savagely strong for a receiver.

"Originally, I was trying to do everything (at the Combine)," Smith said. "Once they told me I wasn't able to do basically everything, I had questions from my agency or whatnot, trying to see if I was going to do the bench.

"I was like, 'I might as well do something.' I came out here the whole time. I was like, 'Yeah, let's go out there and knock it out.' I knew that was going to be one of my strong suits just because I've been training with my dad."

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

In his final season with the Aggies, Ainias Smith caught 53 passes for 795 yards and two touchdowns. 

Smith is strong. He's obviously fast. He has proven himself on the field. He's versatile. And he's already been team-oriented.

NFL teams may be figuring out that he's just what they're looking for. Maybe not in the first round, maybe not in the second.

But the bet here is whatever round he's selected, he'll make it. Smith will make some team a heck of a slot receiver.

A&M coach Mike Elko agrees.

When Elko was A&M's defensive coordinator three years ago, he saw the qualities of an NFL player in Smith.

"Ainias is so unique because he's got such versatility," Elko said. "In the NFL, the rosters get shorter, so versatility matters an awful lot. Kids can line up in a lot of different spots.

"(Smith) has always just been a football player. You saw that in recruiting. He wasn't the most highly recruited kid in the class, but he was always a football player. Football always made sense to him.

"When he came out very early on, you could see the twitch and the athleticism, his ability to separate and get open. Another one who I think will have a shot to be a really successful pro, for sure."