“They asked me, am I ready to be a Jet?” beamed a 23-year-old NCAA talent. “I just told them, yeah, I’m ready, man. I just appreciate them, and I’m honored and blessed that they called me and have just given me an opportunity. And I’m just ready.” Surely, hard work is the key to success, they say. And this 23-year-old NCAA football star is getting to experience it in real life. The NFL realm is currently experiencing Draft fever. With the likes of Shedeur Sanders going undrafted on Day 1, several shockers have riled up the community. Thankfully, with the New York Jets, they seem to be cruising along with their picks.
In a recent turn of events, the Jets have picked a 23-year-old NCAA talent as their fourth-round pick. Surely, this was one of the biggest moments in the career of an NFL rookie. Representing the Georgia Bulldogs, this 23-year-old has been one of the pivotal figures of the team. Having two NCAA titles under his belt, his legacy has surely paved the way for his NFL entry. However, there has been a hint of tension after the 23-year-old was announced as Jets’ No. 110 overall pick in the draft.
So, who is this mystery athlete and is his pick justified? Well, the athlete is none other than the NCAA star, Arian Smith. In their initial couple of picks, the Jets made their fans overly elated. After all, acquiring the services of Mason Taylor and Armand Membou, the Jets would surely look towards an exciting season on the offer. Unfortunately, things started to get a little haywire from the third pick onwards. The Jets picked Azareye’e Thomas, making the eyebrows rise a little. And now, with their fourth pick revealed, the fans have started to question the draft strategy of the Jets. But a look at his track record will reveal that the Jets have a host of reasons to draft him to their side.
One of the main plus points of Smith is his incredible speed. After all, averaging 20 yards per catch at the collegiate level is not a matter of joke. Moreover, his ability to stretch the field also forces the opposing defense to put more emphasis on the deep ball. Such an attribute can significantly help the Jets solve their wide receiver woes. Back in 2024, Smith had his lone year as a starter for the Bulldogs. And the results that he delivered were pretty eye-catching.
The New York Jets selected wide receiver Arian Smith in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Let’s break down his potential role in the Jets offense for the 2025 season and beyond.@JetNation #JetUp #NFLDraft https://t.co/NnEIRb93Nx
— Scott Mitchell (@Scott44Mitchell) April 27, 2025
Smith concluded his season with a total of 817 yards with 48 catches. The 23-year-old also had an impressive average of 17 yards per catch along with 4 touchdowns. Playing four seasons as a UGa, Smith appeared in 47 games where completed 68 successful catches, 1356 yards with an average of 19.9 yards per catch. Smith also recorded 10 touchdowns during this period. Surprisingly, this is not all the records that Smith has. Apart from football, he has also been a prominent name in the track and field circuit.
How Arian Smith’s track speed paved the path for him in the NFL?
Arian Smith’s track career isn’t just a footnote in his story. Rather, it’s the foundation for his current rise on the football field. With a blistering 10.10-second 100m time in 2021, Smith demonstrated a unique blend of raw speed that few athletes possess. However, the transition from sprinting on the track to sprinting in pads isn’t as straightforward as one might think. Speed is crucial in football, but translating that burst into on-field success requires more than just running fast.
In a conversation about his journey, Smith reflected, “It’s tough to give up. Like, me and Matt [Boling], we go a way back before we even got here. I do want to run. I came here to run track and play football, but my first priority was football. It’s going to be tough, but I know what I’m here for.” His commitment to mastering the small details—“in and out of cuts,” blocking, and turning short routes into big gains indeed reveals the growth he’s focused on beyond his long speed.
Arian’s experiences in the track world have shaped his work ethic in football. Despite being a redshirt junior with three more years of eligibility, his transition into a complete football player has only just begun. “My mindset is to get better at football as a whole, not just going deep.” The same speed that earned him accolades on the track is now being honed to make him a dynamic weapon on the field.
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