With The First Pick
Fansided

4 players who should have declared for the 2020 NFL Draft

By Cory Kinnan

PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 16: Shaun Wade #24 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates his interception with teammates Jeff Okudah #1 and Pete Werner #20 in the first quarter against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 16: Shaun Wade #24 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates his interception with teammates Jeff Okudah #1 and Pete Werner #20 in the first quarter against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 22: Offensive lineman Trey Smith #73 of the Tennessee Volunteers battles on the line against Jabari Zuniga #92 of the Florida Gators during the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won the game 47-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 22: Offensive lineman Trey Smith #73 of the Tennessee Volunteers battles on the line against Jabari Zuniga #92 of the Florida Gators during the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won the game 47-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

Trey Smith, OL, Tennessee

The Tennessee Volunteers have one of the best offensive linemen of the 2021 NFL Draft cycle in offensive guard Trey Smith. The 6-6 and 335 offensive guard decided to return to the Volunteers after being projected as one of the top interior offensive linemen, a position where only one player went in the first round (Michigan center Cesar Ruiz), and only two in the entire first two round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

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While Smith is a top player in next year’s draft, he could have passed on all of the uncertainty around playing unpaid football and still been a top-50 pick this year. Smith was named as an All-SEC second team member from 2020, and the Fritz Pollard Award winner from a year ago for:

"“…a college player who has exemplified extraordinary courage, community values, and exceptional performance on the field, while the awards ceremony celebrates individuals and organizations who display outstanding performances on the field, in front offices and across the U.S. by exemplifying diversity, courage and meritorious performance.” (via WVLT)"

He has overcame blood clotting, which put his career on hold, and has come back to be a dominant college football player. He is a tremendous leader in Knoxville, is on every watchlist in the nation, and will look to improve his 2021 NFL Draft stock this season.

While he may still dominate with the Volunteers in 2020, Smith may have a hint of regret as he could be getting paid through all of this uncertainty happening around football this fall. A position of weakness in the 2020 NFL Draft, Smith passed up the chance to be a second rounder as his floor last April.

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