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TreVeyon Henderson, Will Shipley and 10 college football freshmen that will be instant stars

By Cody Williams

Clemson running back Will Shipley(1) runs during football practice in Clemson, S.C. Friday, March 5, 2021.Clemson Spring Football Practice
Clemson running back Will Shipley(1) runs during football practice in Clemson, S.C. Friday, March 5, 2021.Clemson Spring Football Practice /
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Clayton Smith, Oklahoma Sooners. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Clayton Smith, Oklahoma Sooners. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Clayton Smith, OLB, Oklahoma

Oklahoma edge rusher Nik Bonitto figures to be one of the best pass-rushers in the country for the 2021 college football season. Moreover, the Sooners have been steadily improving the narrative that they can’t play defense since Alex Grinch took over that side of the ball. And now Grinch has a piece to help continue that trend as he can add Clayton Smith opposite Bonitto.

Unlike someone like Korey Foreman, Smith doesn’t arrive in Norman as a polished player. The high 4-star recruit is extremely athletic and has a ton of explosiveness out of his 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame that allowed him to be a consistent presence in opposing backfields in high school. But he doesn’t necessarily have a chest of pass-rush moves right now.

With that said, the Sooners are in a position where they need someone to assert themselves opposite of Bonitto. There is a vacancy there and, while there are some solid players who can step in, none of them offer the overall upside and physical tools that Smith brings to the field.

It may not always be a technical masterpiece but there is something valuable in having just an overwhelmingly fast defensive presence as a pass-rusher that can get after opposing quarterbacks, which Smith undoubtedly can be right away. And if he starts to develop throughout his freshman campaign, Big 12 offenses are in for a tough time.