Every year NFL teams look for players in the NFL Draft that they will be able to bring in and immediately contribute to their roster. Many of these players are four-year contributors at their respective colleges who may not be the flashes players – but consistently deliver.
One of these potential players in the 2017 NFL Draft is Tanzel Smart from Tulane. The senior defensive tackle enters the season at 6-1 and 304 pounds and has never missed a game in his three seasons as a member of the Green Wave. He as 24 starts under his belt – and has become one of the leaders at Tulane under new coach Willie Fritz.
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“I really respect work ethic,” Fritz said when asked about his impressions of Smart since taking over at Tulane in December. “He has got a tremendous work ethic. Sometime, when a guy starts to have success and notoriety they start thinking they have all the answers. That’s not the case with him at all. He’s very, very coachable at all times.”
Smart is coming off a successful junior campaign – registering 62 total tackles, 15 tackles for a loss and two sacks en route to being voted First-Team All American Athletic Conference. His numbers have improved in each of his three seasons at Tulane, going from 14 tackles as a freshman to 47 as a sophomore and 62 as a junior.
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Smart enters 2016 as one of the on-field leaders of the Green Wave, but knows that he has strides to make in order to get some of the recognition from scouts at the next level. “I feel like I’ve gotta bring my game up,” Smart said when asked what his plan is entering his senior season. “I feel like every loss we had last year – I could’ve done a lot more. I don’t ever want to be satisfied. I feel like if I get better, it will help us win more games.
“This offseason I’ve been putting in a lot of work. I do the workout in the morning, eat, chill a little bit and then go do another workout after that so I can be ready. A lot of times I’ll go back and do some field drills. Just have to get ready to make an impact in-season.”
This relentless work ethic is part of Smart’s lead by example mentality. His attitude in the weight room and on the field have been contagious throughout his team. The new coaching staff has also taken notice to Smart’s relentless effort. “I go in and run in the weight room,” Fritz said. “It’s 6:30 or 7 o’clock at night once I am done working. There are times I go in there and the lights are turned off, but he’s still in there working. Somehow he sneaks in the weight room and is doing something to get better.“
Smart is more than just effort on the field, however. The 300-plus pounder is a force on the interior. Smart comes off the ball well, firing his hands out and controlling opposing linemen. He has a stunning punch that allows him to effectively use his leg drive.
He is also a savvy player. Smart comes off the ball quickly, but does not get out of control going up field. He does a good job breaking down and reading the play in front of him – but has the quickness to make the tackle in the backfield.
“I make sure to emphasize footwork in my drills,” Smart said when asked about breaking down plays on the interior. “I try to make sure I don’t cross my feet over, make sure my balance is right – on the you got guys falling in on you all the time. You can get a lot of legs tangled up so you need a lot of leg strength and a lot of patience.”
Smart has also received a good amount of praise for his positional versatility and willingness to move around on the line. “He’s just a play maker,” head coach Willie Fritz said when asked about Smart’s versatility. “He makes a lot of big plays. He’s a master at his craft and he’s trying to get better on a daily basis.”
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While Smart is a savvy player who has made a name for himself in the AAC, he knows there is still room for improvement both on and off the field. Both Smart and Fritz noted that Smart is still working on becoming a more vocal leader. While he has the respect of his teammates, he needs to emerge as the vocal leader for a young Tulane program. Smart is also looking to become more of a presence as a pass rusher. He generally plays out at a 3-technique, but has only managed to collect four sacks in his three-year career.
He does a very good job getting into the backfield, but needs to work on finishing off the quarterback. As he enters the 2016 season, Smart is looked at as the 20th-ranked defensive tackle according to CBS Sports – placing as a day three prospect. He has a chance to prove his status and elevate his notoriety across the country when he faces teams such as Houston in Houston and Temple at home. If he can make the strides forward that he has in each of his previous three seasons, Smart should see his stock move up due to his NFL-ready body and play.
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Follow Smart on his path through his senior season and to the NFL Draft on NFL Spin Zone. Each week he will check in for updates and breakdown of the recent games. Follow Matt LaPan on Twitter throughout the season for updates on Smart.