Arian Smith
{{Short description|American football player (born 2001)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Arian Smith
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = New York Jets
| number = 82
| position = Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|10|11}}{{cite web|url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/arian-smith-14794487|title=Arian Smith|website=worldathletics.org|access-date=September 17, 2024}}
| birth_place = Bradley, Florida, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lb = 179
| high_school = Mulberry (2016–2018)
Lakeland (2019)
| college = Georgia (2020–2024)
| draftyear = 2025
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 110
| pastteams =
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- 2× CFP national champion (2021, 2022)
| statseason = 2025
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 =
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 =
| pfr = SmitAr01
}}
Arian Ryshaun Smith (born October 11, 2001) is an American professional football wide receiver for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, winning two national championships. Smith was selected by the Jets in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Early life
Smith first attended Mulberry High School in Mulberry, Florida, where he played football and track and field. In 2018, Smith set the farthest long jump in the country, jumping 25–03.25.{{Cite web|last=Fuoco|first=Roy|date=April 18, 2018|title=One Giant Step|url=https://www.theledger.com/story/sports/high-school/track-field/2018/04/18/mulberrys-arian-smith-jumps-to-best-mark-in-nation-in-2018/12655102007/|access-date=September 12, 2024|website=Lakeland Ledger}} While playing for Mulberry, Smith played running back, quarterback, wide receiver, and defensive back for the football team.{{Cite web|last=Nee|first=Chris|date=July 31, 2018|title=2020 athlete Arian Smith returns to FSU for another visit|url=https://247sports.com/article/fsu-football-recruiting-2020-athlete-arian-smith-returns-to-florida-state-for-another-visit-120237265/|access-date=September 12, 2024|website=247 Sports}} In his junior year, Smith won a gold medal at the 2019 Pan American U20 Athletics Championships with Justin Ofotan, Marcellus Moore, and Matthew Boling for the United States in the 4x100m relay.{{cite web|website=Runnerspace|accessdate=February 10, 2025|url=https://www.runnerspace.com/news.php?news_id=581335|title=Americans Roll to World U-20 Men's 4x100 Relay Record at Pan American U-20 Championships|date=July 21, 2019}} Before his senior year of high school, Smith transferred to Lakeland High School in Lakeland, Florida, continuing to play football and track and field.{{Cite web|last=Fuoco|first=Roy|date=February 13, 2020|title=Lakeland's sprinters among big stories to follow in track in 2020|url=https://www.theledger.com/story/sports/high-school/basketball/2020/02/13/lakelands-sprinters-among-big-stories-to-follow-in-track-in-2020/1712256007/|access-date=September 12, 2024|website=Lakeland Ledger}} Smith primarily played wide receiver for Lakeland and was selected to participate in the 2020 Under Armour All-American game.{{Cite web|last=Fuoco|first=Roy|date=November 13, 2019|title=Lakeland football standouts Bowman, Smith get Under Armour game jerseys|url=https://www.theledger.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2019/11/13/lakeland-football-standouts-bowman-smith-get-under-armour-game-jerseys/2296622007/|access-date=August 12, 2024|website=Lakeland Ledger}} Ranked as a four-star recruit by ESPN, Smith received offers from many colleges,{{Cite web|last=Fuoco|first=Roy|date=August 12, 2019|title=SUPER 16: Arian Smith's speed garners multiple college offers|url=https://www.theledger.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2019/08/13/super-16-arian-smiths-speed-garners-multiple-college-offers/4477832007/|access-date=September 12, 2024|website=Lakeland Ledger}} ultimately committing to play college football for the University of Georgia over Alabama.{{Cite web|last=Lyons|first=Dan|date=December 18, 2019|title=4-Star WR Commits To Georgia Over Alabama|url=https://thespun.com/sec/georgia-bulldogs/arian-smith-commit-georgia-signing-period-alabama|access-date=September 12, 2024|website=The Spun}}
College career
=Track and field=
Smith initially continued to play both football and track and field for Georgia. In 2021, Arian was named a first-team All-American for track and field, also qualifying for the SEC Championship for his time in the 100-meter dash.{{Cite magazine|last=Reno|first=Harrison|date=June 19, 2021|title=Blue Prints for Success: Arian Smith|url=https://www.si.com/college/georgia/news/georgia-football-blueprint-arian-smith|access-date=September 12, 2024|magazine=Sports Illustrated}} In 2023, Smith announced he would continue solely on his football career and no longer compete in track and field.{{Cite web|title=Watch: Arian Smith putting track aside to focus on football|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-bulldogs/watch-arian-smith-putting-track-aside-to-focus-on-football/b63ce639-8b97-4302-aed9-69921847cf98/|access-date=September 12, 2024|website=The Atlanta Journal Constitution}}{{Cite web|last=Morrison|first=Dan|date=March 30, 2023|title=Arian Smith thinks he'll focus on football over track|url=https://www.on3.com/college/georgia-bulldogs/news/arian-smith-thinks-he-will-focus-on-football-over-track/|access-date=September 12, 2024|website=On3}}
=American football=
Smith redshirted his freshman year and played in the last four games of the 2020 season. His first catch was a 31-yard touchdown against South Carolina.{{Cite web|last=Morgan|first=James|date=November 28, 2020|title=Watch: Georgia WR Arian Smith burns defense for first career TD|url=https://ugawire.usatoday.com/2020/11/28/watch-georgia-bulldogs-uga-football-wide-receiver-arian-smith-burns-south-carolina-defense-touchdown/|access-date=September 12, 2024|website=UGA Wire}} The following year, Smith only played in four of fifteen games this season due to various injuries.{{Cite web|last=Vitale|first=Joe|date=August 23, 2021|title=WR Arian Smith playing through minor injuries|url=https://ugawire.usatoday.com/2021/08/23/georgia-football-hc-kirby-smarts-says-wr-arian-smith-dealing-with-injury/|access-date=September 12, 2024|website=UGA Wire}}{{Cite web|last=Hubbard|first=Drew|date=November 11, 2021|title=Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith breaks leg, potentially out for remainder of season|url=https://www.redandblack.com/sports/georgia-wide-receiver-arian-smith-breaks-leg-potentially-out-for-remainder-of-season/article_809ea9b4-4324-11ec-8ba7-1b6dab97f3a4.html|access-date=September 12, 2024|website=The Red and Black}}{{Cite web|last=Weiszer|first=Mark|date=April 20, 2022|title=Speedy Arian Smith brings vertical threat. Now he aims to find a way to stay on the field|url=https://www.onlineathens.com/story/sports/college/bulldogs-extra/2022/04/20/georgia-football-arian-smith-kirby-smart-stetson-bennett-jermaine-burton-lakeland-george-pickens/7368991001/|access-date=September 12, 2024|website=Athens Banner-Herald}} He caught a 35-yard pass against Missouri and a 67-yard pass against UAB, both for touchdowns.{{Cite magazine|last=Crowell|first=Evan|date=August 10, 2022|title=Arian Smith Drawing Rave Reviews|url=https://www.si.com/college/georgia/news/arian-smith-drawing-rave-reviews|access-date=September 12, 2024|magazine=Sports Illustrated}} In 2022, Smith again missed time due to injuries, missing the season's first four games recovering from surgery for a high ankle sprain received in practice.{{Cite web|last=Spencer|first=Sarah|date=August 13, 2022|title=Georgia's Arian Smith to undergo ankle surgery; more injury updates from Kirby Smart|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-bulldogs/georgias-arian-smith-to-undergo-ankle-surgery-more-injury-updates-from-kirby-smart/EPMCIBWDANBA7NT5QEE4UMRWAE/|access-date=September 12, 2024|website=The Atlanta Journal Constitution}} In the Peach Bowl, Smith had a season-high 129 receiving yards in the game, including a career-long 76-yard catch for a touchdown in a win against Ohio State.{{Cite web|last=Riley|first=Connor|date=January 1, 2023|title=Arian Smith sums up his game-changing touchdown in the most Georgia football way possible|url=https://www.dawgnation.com/sec-championship/georgia-football-arian-smith-touchdown-ohio-state/6S6LKRCDLBARHBLTNH5L24WRCM/|access-date=September 12, 2024|website=Dawg Nation}} Smith played in all fourteen games the following season, scoring a touchdown against UAB and one against Florida State in the 2023 Orange Bowl. Using a granted extra year of eligibility, Smith returned to play for Georgia in 2024.{{Cite web|last=Towers|first=Chip|date=August 2, 2024|title=Arian Smith ready for another run with Georgia Bulldogs|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-bulldogs/arian-smith-ready-for-another-run-with-georgia-bulldogs/XGKU4XOAINA7PEKPROPWWMB2TY/|access-date=September 12, 2024|website=The Atlanta Journal Constitution}}{{Cite web|last=Weiszer|first=Mark|date=August 13, 2024|title=Entering his fifth Georgia football season, wide receiver Arian Smith 'still hungry'|url=https://www.onlineathens.com/story/sports/college/bulldogs-extra/2024/08/13/arian-smith-georgia-football-kirby-smart-mike-bobo/74734028007/|access-date=September 12, 2024|website=Athens Banner-Herald}} In week 2, Smith caught a 50-yard pass for a touchdown against Tennessee Tech.{{Cite web|last=Kramer|first=Kelsey|date=September 7, 2024|title=Georgia Bulldogs' Arian Smith reveals what has changed mentally for him this year|url=https://atozsports.com/college-football/georgia-bulldogs-news/georgia-bulldogs-arian-smith-reveals-what-has-changed-mentally-for-him-this-year/|access-date=September 12, 2024|website=A to Z Sports}} In week five, Smith had 132 yards and a touchdown in a loss against Alabama.{{Cite web|last=Warden|first=Owen|date=September 28, 2024|title=3 takeaways, Georgia falls to Alabama 41-34|url=https://www.13wmaz.com/article/sports/local-sports/3-takeaways-georgia-falls-to-alabama-41-34/93-52e45feb-e656-4e9c-9604-0f2ec53c0222|access-date=October 3, 2024|website=13 WMAZ}} In week 7, Smith had a career-high 134 yards, including a 55 yard touchdown, in a win against Mississippi State.{{Cite web|last=McDaniel|first=Owen|date=October 12, 2024|title=Smith has career day in Georgia win|url=https://www.redandblack.com/gameday/smith-has-career-day-in-georgia-win/article_c9b32b4a-88fc-11ef-8302-03cd9913b366.html|access-date=October 13, 2024|website=The Red and Black}} During the 2024 season, Smith had the most drops in the Power Four conferences with ten.{{Cite web|last=Hughes|first=Grant|date=January 7, 2025|title=Ranking SEC wide receivers with the most drops during the 2024 college football season|url=https://247sports.com/longformarticle/ranking-sec-wide-receivers-with-the-most-drops-during-the-2024-college-football-season-243691328/#2578736|access-date=January 9, 2025|website=247 Sports}} Despite this, Smith led the Bulldogs in receiving yards with 817.{{Cite web|last=Emerson|first=Seth|date=December 29, 2024|title=How Georgia's Arian Smith overcomes his drops to be one of Bulldogs' most clutch players|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6023775/2024/12/29/georgia-notre-dame-football-cfp-arian-smith/|access-date=January 9, 2025|website=The Athletic}}{{Cite web|last=Morgan|first=James|date=January 8, 2025|title=Georgia's leading receiver declares for the NFL draft|url=https://ugawire.usatoday.com/2025/01/08/arian-smith-georgia-football-2025-nfl-draft-decision/|access-date=January 9, 2025|website=UGA Wire}} After the 2024 season, Smith declared for the 2025 NFL draft.{{Cite web|last=Underwood|first=Bob|date=January 7, 2025|title=Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith declares for NFL draft|url=https://www.redandblack.com/sports/georgia-wide-receiver-arian-smith-declares-for-nfl-draft/article_c47d4884-cc7e-11ef-b803-c3ab4ea8e2e8.html|access-date=January 9, 2025|website=The Red and Black}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||
| colspan="11" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Georgia Bulldogs}}"| Georgia Bulldogs | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="2"| Season
! rowspan="2"| GP ! colspan="4"| Receiving ! colspan="4"| Rushing | |||||||||
| Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
| 2020
|4 |2 |86 |43.0 |1 |1 |–9 |–9.0 |0 | |||||||||
| 2021
|4 |3 |102 |34.0 |2 |1 |15 |15.0 |0 | |||||||||
| 2022
|11 |7 |198 |28.3 |1 |0 |0 |0.0 |0 | |||||||||
| 2023
|14 |8 |153 |19.1 |2 |1 |33 |33.0 |0 | |||||||||
| 2024
|14 |48 |817 |19.9 |4 |5 |54 |10.8 |0 | |||||||||
| [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/ladd-mcconkey-1.html Career] | 47 | 42 | 1,356 | 19.9 | 10 | 8 | 93 | 11.6 | 0 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 0 1/8
| weight = 179
| dash = 4.36
| ten split = 1.51
| twenty split = 2.57
| shuttle = 4.19
| cone drill = 6.82
| vertical = 38.0
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 7
| arm span = 31 1/4
| hand span = 9
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/arian-smith/3200534d-4904-1251-9b42-a08f3a861b2a |title=Arian Smith Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=March 1, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1045193&DraftYear=2025 |title=Arian Smith College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=March 1, 2025}}
}}
Smith was selected by the New York Jets in the fourth round, with the 110th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=Jets Select Georgia WR Arian Smith with the 110th Overall Selection in the 2025 NFL Draft |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/arian-smith-nfl-draft-wide-receiver-georgia |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=NewYorkJets.com |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.newyorkjets.com/team/players-roster/arian-smith/ New York Jets bio]
- [https://georgiadogs.com/sports/football/roster/arian-smith/7408 Georgia Bulldogs bio]
{{2021 Georgia Bulldogs football navbox}}
{{2022 Georgia Bulldogs football navbox}}
{{New York Jets 2025 NFL draft picks}}
{{New York Jets roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Arian}}
Category:Players of American football from Polk County, Florida
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Lakeland High School (Lakeland, Florida) alumni