Q&A: Minneapolis native Elerson Smith on NFL Draft and killing of Daunte Wright
[anvplayer video=”5021540″ station=”998122″]
Former Minneapolis South HS and Northern Iowa pass-rusher Elerson Smith will be chosen in the NFL Draft in a couple weeks.
We caught up with Smith before a workout at Los Campeones Gym in Minneapolis to talk about his pre-draft process, the killing of Daunte Wright last weekend in Brooklyn Center, and more.
***Click the video box above to watch our conversation with Smith***
Smith had a very productive final season for Northern Iowa in 2019, and his Pro Day numbers jump out. Smith jumped 41.5″ vertical, had a 10’7 broad, and bench-pressed 225 lbs 26 times with 33 1/4″ arms. That vertical puts Smith in the 99th percentile, broad 93rd for edge-rusher. He also ran a 4.69 40-yard dash.
Smith had 21.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks, to go along with 63 total tackles in 2019. His last season was canceled due to Covid-19. Smith stands at 6-feet-6 and he weighs 252 pounds.
Minneapolis native Elerson Smith, in the distance getting ready to do a drill with his trainer, will be chosen in this year's NFL Draft.[KSTP: Jeff Brioschi]
Coming out of South high school, Smith was a two-star recruit with limited options. But Northern Iowa saw his potential and he ran with it.
Noted NFL Draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah compares Smith to pass-ruser Maxx Crosby, a really productive player for the Las Vegas Raiders
The NFL Draft is April 29-May 1.