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The New England Patriots\u2019 running back group fell short of expectations in 2024. Insufficient offensive line play had a lot to do with that, but so did the players themselves not reaching their projected potential. One area where this was quite obvious was the passing game: the team\u2019s top three backs \u2014 Rhamondre Stevenson (33), Antonio Gibson (23), JaMycal Hasty (10) \u2014 combined for only 66 receptions.<\/p>\n
The lack of a true passing back in the mold of ex-Patriots James White or Shane Vereen robbed the team\u2019s quarterbacks of reliable security blankets. Needless to say, that is an area the club very well could try to address in this year\u2019s draft.<\/p>\n
If so, few players are better fits than SMU\u2019s Brashard Smith.<\/p>\n
Name:<\/strong> Brashard Smith<\/p>\n Position:<\/strong> Running back<\/p>\n School:<\/strong> SMU<\/p>\n Opening day age:<\/strong> 22 (4\/11\/2003)<\/p>\n Measurements:<\/strong> 5\u20199 7\/8\u201d, 194 lbs, 74\u201d wingspan, 30 1\/2\u201d arm length, 8 3\/4\u201d hand size, 4.39s 40-yard dash, 4.28s short shuttle, 32 1\/2\u201d vertical jump, 9\u20199\u201d broad jump, 7.21 Relative Athletic Score<\/p>\n Colleges:<\/strong> Miami (2021-23), SMU (2024)<\/p>\n Career statistics:<\/strong> 49 games (20 starts) | 1,117 offensive snaps, 316 special teams snaps | 253 carries, 1,509 rushing yards (6.0 yards\/carry), 15 TDs | 139 targets, 108 catches (77.7%), 1,097 receiving yards, 8 TDs | 53 kickoff returns, 1,323 yards (25.0 yards\/return), 1 TD | 5 punt returns, 40 yards (8.0 yards\/return) | 2 special teams tackles, 1 missed tackle (33.3%) | 5 fumbles, 6 drops<\/p>\n Accolades:<\/strong> Third-team All-American (all-purpose | 2024), First-team All-ACC (2024), Second-team All-ACC (kickoff returner | 2023), Honorable mention All-ACC (all-purpose | 2023)<\/p>\n A four-star wide receiver recruit out of Miami Palmetto High School, Smith received scholarship offers from some of the most prominent football programs in the country. He initially committed to Florida but four months later decommitted and made the switch to the University of Miami. He ended up spending three seasons with the Hurricanes, playing in 35 games and catching 69 passes for 770 yards and 4 touchdowns.<\/p>\n In 2024, Smith transferred to SMU to reunite with his former offensive coordinator at Miami, Rhett Lashlee. A part-time ball carrier already, he made the move from wide receiver to running back full-time under Lashlee. The decision paid off: Smith carried the ball 235 times for 1,332 yards and 14 touchdowns during his senior season, while also adding 39 receptions for 327 yards and 4 more scores.<\/p>\n A first-team All-ACC selection who ranked fourth in FBS with 1,977 all-purpose yards in 2024, Smith was invited to the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine after leaving college.<\/p>\n Expected round:<\/strong> Day 3 | Consensus big board:<\/strong> No. 161 | Patriots meeting:<\/strong> N\/A<\/p>\n Strengths:<\/strong> A big-play threat who had 19 plays of 20-plus yards in his first season as a running back, Smith moves quickly and effectively both with and without the ball in his hands. His background as a receiver allows him to run a variety of routes at a high level and he has proven himself a mismatch when lined up 1-on-1 against a linebacker. He also has good hand-eye coordinator, allowing him to make catches not every back can make.<\/p>\n As a runner, his straight-line speed is not his only asset. Smith also has shown the proper fight, elusiveness and contact balance to find his way out of tackle attempts; in 2024, he was credited with 52 missed tackles forced on 235 carries, a rate of 22.1 percent. Despite his lack of experience as an RB, he showed promising if still underdeveloped vision and feel for the blocks in front of him. He also has shown some good pad level to squeeze through holes.<\/p>\n File Brashard Smith into the "weapon"\ud83c\udfaf category.<\/p>\n The Miami WR turned SMU RB takes SMU 1\/2 a football field in 2 plays: He's met with the #NEPATS<\/a> and had a top30 with #bears<\/a> & #vikings<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/os4tR3qbTi<\/a><\/p>\n — ZeeBee (@BellinoZee) April 7, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nExperience<\/h2>\n
Draft profile<\/h2>\n
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\ud83d\udd3816 yards up the gut
\ud83d\udd38double-move split wide for 33
\ud83d\udd38this was Smiths's 5th game at RB \ud83d\udc40<\/p>\n