Devy Digest: Freshman Spotlight- WR Travis Smith Jr
Welcome to Freshman Friday, where Andy Pham highlights upcoming freshmen who could make waves in the upcoming season.
Tennessee Volunteers
Position: Wide Receiver
Travis Smith Jr
6’3” | 200 LBS
Draft Eligible: 2028
Who is Travis Smith Jr?
Smith was a four-star prospect in the composite rankings who attended Westlake High in Atlanta, Georgia. He was a two-sport athlete, also competing in basketball. Smith had a fantastic junior season, recording 37 receptions for 630 yards and nine touchdowns in nine games. He followed that up with a monstrous senior season, tallying 64 receptions for 1,320 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Smith held 33 offers but chose Tennessee before the start of his senior season. At 6’3” and 200 lbs, he fits the mold of a typical X-receiver. He showcases good length, an exceptional wingspan, physicality, and adequate speed. Smith is a strong route runner, especially for his size, doing a great job of selling his routes and excelling at the catch point. He displays strong hands and a knack for creating late separation. His ability to high-point the ball makes him a dangerous target, particularly against bracketed coverages.
Smith should be a threat in both the red and green zones, demonstrating good body control and overall athleticism. He moves well for his size. As an early enrollee, he will participate in spring camp.
Pathway to Success
The Tennessee receiving room is lackluster. The best returning player is Mike Matthews, who received a new NIL deal to stay with the program. He is expected to operate as the Z-receiver, allowing him to get a free release, use his speed to get vertical, and create space for the rest of the offense. However, given the lack of talent in the room, Tennessee may also ask him to work in the Y-receiver slot, a role he filled 17% of the time last year. That move would free up Chris Brazzell as a boundary player, alongside Smith.
Tennessee also brought in Amari Jefferson from Alabama, but the rest of the receiver room consists mostly of bench players. Smith has both the talent and opportunity to start from day one. You could argue he is already the second-best receiver on the team, as Brazzell failed to impress last season. The jump from Tulane to Tennessee seemed too big for him, and he doesn’t appear to be a player who can consistently win at the SEC level. Smith has every opportunity to claim the boundary receiver spot this spring.
I expect him to impress, as he is one of the best in this class at the catch point. His ability to create late separation should earn the trust of his quarterback. Tennessee has lacked star power at the receiver position since Cedric Tillman and Jalin Hyatt left. The duo of Matthews and Smith could be what Tennessee needs to unlock its offense.
Improvements/Concerns
Smith isn’t the best at naturally creating separation. His speed is not top-end, raising concerns that he may be only a slight upgrade over Brazzell and still function primarily as a possession receiver. There’s also the possibility that Tennessee keeps Matthews at Z-receiver, forcing Smith to battle Brazzell for the X-receiver role. With Brazzell being a third-year player and in his second year in the program, Tennessee may give him the starting job, leaving Smith in the two-deep rotation on the depth chart.
Additionally, quarterback play was a major concern last season. If Tennessee’s quarterback cannot effectively operate the offense, the entire unit could struggle. Another issue is Tennessee’s track record with receiver development. The program tends to rely on natural talent rather than strong coaching and development. Their last few high four-star receivers have failed to pan out, which raises questions about how Smith will progress in the system.
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Devy/C2C Value
In devy drafts, you won’t need to draft him. Even in a freshman-hungry league, he won’t be a must-draft player. In C2C supplemental drafts, he’ll likely go in the third through sixth rounds. His frame and skill set will generate camp buzz, especially with the lack of proven production in Tennessee’s receiver room.
Tennessee had an outstanding statistical season in 2022 when Tillman and Hyatt were dominant, and managers in C2C leagues will be chasing that past production. That potential upside will help hold Smith’s value. There’s a scenario where his value increases once the season starts if he consistently makes plays. He is an exciting prospect with the potential to become Tennessee’s next standout receiver.