Ainias Smith

Last updated

Ainias Smith
No. 82 – Philadelphia Eagles
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (2001-05-31) May 31, 2001 (age 23)
Missouri City, Texas, U.S.
Height:5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:176 lb (80 kg)
Career information
High school: Dulles
(Sugar Land, Texas)
College: Texas A&M (2019–2023)
NFL draft: 2024  / round: 5 / pick: 152
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2024
Rushing yards:6
Rushing average:3.0
Receptions:7
Receiving yards:41
Receiving touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Ainias Smith (born May 31, 2001) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas A&M.

Contents

Early life and education

Smith grew up in Missouri City, Texas and attended John Foster Dulles High School in Sugar Land, Texas. [1] In his high school career, he was a starter at wide receiver, running back, cornerback, and occasionally free safety. [2] As a senior, he rushed for 481 yards and 10 touchdowns and caught 55 passes for 717 yards and 10 touchdowns. [3] Smith committed to play college football at Texas A&M over Duke. [4] [5]

College career

As a freshman, Smith played mostly wide receiver and served as the team's primary return specialist and had 22 receptions for 248 yards and three touchdowns. [6] [7] He played running back in the 2019 Texas Bowl and rushed for 54 yards on seven carries in a 24-21 win over Oklahoma State. [8] Smith was moved to running back before the start of his sophomore season, while remaining a flex option at wide receiver. [9] [2] He finished the season with 293 yards and four touchdowns on 49 carries and also caught 43 passes for a team-leading 564 receiving yards with six touchdown receptions.

Smith was named to the watchlist for the Hornung Award going into his junior season. [10] That season, he was selected as a team captain and returned to a primarily wide receiver role, leading the team in receptions. In a win over #1 ranked Alabama, he recorded six receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns. [2]

He was briefly suspended by the team in July 2022 due to a DWI arrest, but was reinstated after the charges were dropped due to a lack of evidence. [11] After starting the first four games of his senior season, he suffered a leg injury that ended his season. [12] [13] Smith was granted a fifth year of eligibility due to the injury, qualifying as a medical redshirt. [14]

On September 20, 2023, he earned SEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after returning a punt 82 yards for a touchdown and recording a career-high 202 all-purpose yards against Arkansas, the team he was injured against the year prior. [12] He ended his fifth year leading the Aggies in all-purpose yards (1,204), receiving yards (795), and punt return yards (285), earning him first team All-SEC honors. [13]

College statistics

Texas A&M Aggies
SeasonReceivingRushingPunt ReturnsKick Returns
RecYdsAvgLngTDAttYdsAvgLngTDRetYdsAvgTDRetYdsAvgTD
2019 2224811.33037547.71901619011.901325719.80
2020 4356413.1546492936.038417755.000000
2021 4750910.82768263.3802325911.310000
2022 1529119.46323113.7908273.400000
2023 5379515.04225214.21102028514.31710314.70
Career 1802,40713.46319724055.63848283610.222036018.00

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Bench press
5 ft 9+3⁄8 in
(1.76 m)		190 lb
(86 kg)		29 in
(0.74 m)		8+1⁄2 in
(0.22 m)		4.56 s1.57 s2.60 s4.27 s6.86 s21 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day [15] [16] [17]

Smith was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 152nd pick in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft. [18] He was placed on injured reserve on August 27, 2024. [19] He was activated on October 26. [20] Smith made his debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He caught one pass for no gain and rushed once for two yards. [21] On January 5, in a week 18 matchup against the New York Giants, Smith caught the first touchdown of his NFL career on a pass from quarterback Tanner McKee. [22]

NFL career statistics

Legend
BoldCareer High
YearTeamGamesReceivingRushingFumbles
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTDAttYdsAvgLngTDFumLost
2024 PHI 717415.9151263.04000
Career 717415.9151263.04000

Personal life

Smith is the younger brother of NFL defensive back Maurice Smith. [23] On July 20, 2022, Smith was arrested into Brazos County, Texas on three charges: unlawful carrying of a weapon, driving while intoxicated, and possession of marijuana. [24] He was released the same day after posting $8,000 bail, and the charges were dropped 9 days later by the Brazos county attorney due to a lack of evidence. [11]

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References

  1. ↑ Underwood, Hannah (December 14, 2020). "3 reasons why Texas A&M could be better in 2021, including a triple threat at running back". The Dallas Morning News . Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Ohnysty, Cameron (June 25, 2022). "Texas A&M Player Profile: Wide receiver, Ainias Smith". Aggies Wire. USA Today . Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  3. ↑ Sayles, Damon (February 6, 2019). "A&M adds speed, versatility to 2019 class in ATH Ainias Smith". 247Sports.com . Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  4. ↑ Zwerneman, Brent (February 6, 2019). "Texas A&M adds versatile player to 2019 signing class". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  5. ↑ Brown, Travis L. (November 16, 2019). "Aggie freshman wide receiver Ainias Smith chose Texas A&M as much for academics as for football". The Bryan-College Station Eagle . Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Ainias Smith Brings Versatile Skill Set to A&M Backfield". Fox44News. September 1, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  7. ↑ Zwerneman, Brent (October 22, 2019). "Aggies counting on happy returns from Ainias Smith". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  8. ↑ O'Gara, Connor (November 5, 2020). "Why Ainias Smith is the unique X-factor who suddenly has Texas A&M looking worthy of Playoff talk". Saturday Down South. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  9. ↑ Thompson, Cole (February 5, 2020). "Ainias Smith To Switch Positions in 2020". SI.com . Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Aggie playmaker Ainias Smith named to Hornung Award watch list". KAGSTV.com. July 29, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  11. 1 2 Wilson, Dave (July 29, 2022). "Aggies' Smith won't face DWI, weapons charges". ESPN.com . ESPN . Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  12. 1 2 Stanford, Kiri. "Ainias Smith '22". 12th Man Foundation. Texas A&M Athletics . Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  13. 1 2 "Ainias Smith - Football". Texas A&M Athletics . Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  14. ↑ Thompson, Cole (December 8, 2023). "Texas A&M Aggies WR Ainias Smith Declares For 2024 NFL Draft, Will Coach In Bowl Game". Texas A&M Aggies On SI. Sports Illustrated . Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Ainias Smith Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  16. ↑ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Ainias Smith College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  17. ↑ Karels, Carter (March 19, 2024). "Texas A&M Pro Day results: 18 former Aggie players audition for NFL teams". 247Sports.com. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  18. ↑ Gowton, Brandon Lee (April 27, 2024). "NFL Draft Results: Eagles pick Ainias Smith at No. 152". Bleeding Green Nation. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Get your first look at the Eagles' initial 53-man roster". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. August 27, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  20. ↑ McMullen, John (October 26, 2024). "Eagles Activate Rookie WR". SI.com. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Ainias Smith 2024 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  22. ↑ McManus, Tim (January 6, 2025). "Eagles' rookie WR Ainias Smith scores first TD vs. Giants". ESPN.com . ESPN . Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  23. ↑ Wilson, Aaron (August 28, 2018). "Football is a family affair for Dolphins' Maurice Smith, brother Ainias Smith". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  24. ↑ Rittenberg, Adam (July 20, 2022). "Texas A&M Aggies football player Ainias Smith arrested on DWI, weapon, marijuana charges". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
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