Daily Camera Article
Colorado junior cornerback Jimmy Smith said he has submitted paperwork to the NFL Draft Advisory Board for advice on what round he would be selected if he chose to enter the 2010 draft as an underclassman.
Smith said he most likely will remain at CU for his senior season next fall, but if the board told him he was going to be a first or second-round selection in April, he would leave school early.
"I think another year would make me a lot more known around the football community, I guess, with like a lot more hype going into the season," Smith said. "Things that would make me leave is if they said I would go first or second round, then of course I would leave. That`s a no-brainer."
Eligible underclassmen must declare for the draft by Jan. 15, 2010. Some analysts have speculated that a larger than normal group of underclassmen could declare for the 2010 draft because of the potential for a NFL work stoppage and labor dispute after next season.
Smith was named second team All-Big 12 by the Associated Press this season after playing in all 12 games for the Buffs and finishing as the fifth leading tackler on the team with 70 total stops. He intercepted two passes with a forced fumble and fumble recovery and finished the season with10 pass breakups.
Those are likely not the numbers of a first- or second-round selection, but Smith is already considered a strong candidate to be drafted because of his size (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) and his athleticism.
NFLDraftScout ranks Smith as the 42nd best cornerback in the 2011 class with nine other Big 12 defensive backs rated ahead of him.
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Article goes on to say that Brown and Ambrose will support him no matter what he decides and that he is on track to get his sociology degree in May, so he'd be able to focus more on football next season with a light course load.
Sounds like Jimmy Smith is coming back next year. We'll know for sure by January 15th, but Jimmy's likely return is making me feel a lot better about our cornerback situation in 2010. And I do believe he will significantly improve his draft status by staying another year. :thumbsup:
Colorado junior cornerback Jimmy Smith said he has submitted paperwork to the NFL Draft Advisory Board for advice on what round he would be selected if he chose to enter the 2010 draft as an underclassman.
Smith said he most likely will remain at CU for his senior season next fall, but if the board told him he was going to be a first or second-round selection in April, he would leave school early.
"I think another year would make me a lot more known around the football community, I guess, with like a lot more hype going into the season," Smith said. "Things that would make me leave is if they said I would go first or second round, then of course I would leave. That`s a no-brainer."
Eligible underclassmen must declare for the draft by Jan. 15, 2010. Some analysts have speculated that a larger than normal group of underclassmen could declare for the 2010 draft because of the potential for a NFL work stoppage and labor dispute after next season.
Smith was named second team All-Big 12 by the Associated Press this season after playing in all 12 games for the Buffs and finishing as the fifth leading tackler on the team with 70 total stops. He intercepted two passes with a forced fumble and fumble recovery and finished the season with10 pass breakups.
Those are likely not the numbers of a first- or second-round selection, but Smith is already considered a strong candidate to be drafted because of his size (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) and his athleticism.
NFLDraftScout ranks Smith as the 42nd best cornerback in the 2011 class with nine other Big 12 defensive backs rated ahead of him.
=============
Article goes on to say that Brown and Ambrose will support him no matter what he decides and that he is on track to get his sociology degree in May, so he'd be able to focus more on football next season with a light course load.
Sounds like Jimmy Smith is coming back next year. We'll know for sure by January 15th, but Jimmy's likely return is making me feel a lot better about our cornerback situation in 2010. And I do believe he will significantly improve his draft status by staying another year. :thumbsup: