Ainias Smith

Ainias Smith
No. 82 – Philadelphia Eagles
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (2001-05-31) May 31, 2001 (age 23)
Missouri City, Texas, U.S.
Height:5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:176 lb (80 kg)
Career information
High school:Dulles
(Sugar Land, Texas)
College:Texas A&M (2019–2023)
NFL draft:2024 / round: 5 / pick: 152
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2024
Rushing yards:6
Rushing average:3.0
Receptions:7
Receiving yards:41
Receiving touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Ainias Smith (born May 31, 2001) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas A&M.

Early life and education

Smith grew up in Missouri City, Texas and attended John Foster Dulles High School in Sugar Land, Texas.[1] In his high school career, he was a starter at wide receiver, running back, cornerback, and occasionally free safety.[2] As a senior, he rushed for 481 yards and 10 touchdowns and caught 55 passes for 717 yards and 10 touchdowns.[3] Smith committed to play college football at Texas A&M over Duke.[4][5]

College career

As a freshman, Smith played mostly wide receiver and served as the team's primary return specialist and had 22 receptions for 248 yards and three touchdowns.[6][7] He played running back in the 2019 Texas Bowl and rushed for 54 yards on seven carries in a 24-21 win over Oklahoma State.[8] Smith was moved to running back before the start of his sophomore season, while remaining a flex option at wide receiver.[9][2] He finished the season with 293 yards and four touchdowns on 49 carries and also caught 43 passes for a team-leading 564 receiving yards with six touchdown receptions.

Smith was named to the watchlist for the Hornung Award going into his junior season.[10] That season, he was selected as a team captain and returned to a primarily wide receiver role, leading the team in receptions. In a win over #1 ranked Alabama, he recorded six receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns.[2]

He was briefly suspended by the team in July 2022 due to a DWI arrest, but was reinstated after the charges were dropped due to a lack of evidence.[11] After starting the first four games of his senior season, he suffered a leg injury that ended his season.[12][13] Smith was granted a fifth year of eligibility due to the injury, qualifying as a medical redshirt.[14]

On September 20, 2023, he earned SEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after returning a punt 82 yards for a touchdown and recording a career-high 202 all-purpose yards against Arkansas, the team he was injured against the year prior.[12] He ended his fifth year leading the Aggies in all-purpose yards (1,204), receiving yards (795), and punt return yards (285), earning him first team All-SEC honors.[13]

College statistics

Texas A&M Aggies
Season Receiving Rushing Punt Returns Kick Returns
Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg TD Ret Yds Avg TD
2019 22 248 11.3 30 3 7 54 7.7 19 0 16 190 11.9 0 13 257 19.8 0
2020 43 564 13.1 54 6 49 293 6.0 38 4 17 75 5.0 0 0 0 0 0
2021 47 509 10.8 27 6 8 26 3.3 8 0 23 259 11.3 1 0 0 0 0
2022 15 291 19.4 63 2 3 11 3.7 9 0 8 27 3.4 0 0 0 0 0
2023 53 795 15.0 42 2 5 21 4.2 11 0 20 285 14.3 1 7 103 14.7 0
Career 180 2,407 13.4 63 19 72 405 5.6 38 4 82 836 10.2 2 20 360 18.0 0

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Bench press
5 ft 9+3⁄8 in
(1.76 m) 		190 lb
(86 kg) 		29 in
(0.74 m) 		8+1⁄2 in
(0.22 m)		 4.56 s 1.57 s 2.60 s 4.27 s 6.86 s 21 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[15][16][17]

Smith was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 152nd pick in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft.[18] He was placed on injured reserve on August 27, 2024.[19] He was activated on October 26.[20] Smith made his debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He caught one pass for no gain and rushed once for two yards.[21] On January 5, in a week 18 matchup against the New York Giants, Smith caught the first touchdown of his NFL career on a pass from quarterback Tanner McKee.[22]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold Career High
Year Team Games Receiving Rushing Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2024 PHI 7 1 7 41 5.9 15 1 2 6 3.0 4 0 0 0
Career 7 1 7 41 5.9 15 1 2 6 3.0 4 0 0 0

Personal life

Smith is the younger brother of NFL defensive back Maurice Smith.[23] On July 20, 2022, Smith was arrested into Brazos County, Texas on three charges: unlawful carrying of a weapon, driving while intoxicated, and possession of marijuana.[24] He was released the same day after posting $8,000 bail, and the charges were dropped 9 days later by the Brazos county attorney due to a lack of evidence.[11]

References

  1. ^ Underwood, Hannah (December 14, 2020). "3 reasons why Texas A&M could be better in 2021, including a triple threat at running back". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Ohnysty, Cameron (June 25, 2022). "Texas A&M Player Profile: Wide receiver, Ainias Smith". Aggies Wire. USA Today. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  3. ^ Sayles, Damon (February 6, 2019). "A&M adds speed, versatility to 2019 class in ATH Ainias Smith". 247Sports.com. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  4. ^ Zwerneman, Brent (February 6, 2019). "Texas A&M adds versatile player to 2019 signing class". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  5. ^ Brown, Travis L. (November 16, 2019). "Aggie freshman wide receiver Ainias Smith chose Texas A&M as much for academics as for football". The Bryan-College Station Eagle. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  6. ^ "Ainias Smith Brings Versatile Skill Set to A&M Backfield". Fox44News. September 1, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  7. ^ Zwerneman, Brent (October 22, 2019). "Aggies counting on happy returns from Ainias Smith". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  8. ^ O'Gara, Connor (November 5, 2020). "Why Ainias Smith is the unique X-factor who suddenly has Texas A&M looking worthy of Playoff talk". Saturday Down South. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  9. ^ Thompson, Cole (February 5, 2020). "Ainias Smith To Switch Positions in 2020". SI.com. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  10. ^ "Aggie playmaker Ainias Smith named to Hornung Award watch list". KAGSTV.com. July 29, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  11. ^ a b Wilson, Dave (July 29, 2022). "Aggies' Smith won't face DWI, weapons charges". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  12. ^ a b Stanford, Kiri. "Ainias Smith '22". 12th Man Foundation. Texas A&M Athletics. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Ainias Smith - Football". Texas A&M Athletics. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  14. ^ Thompson, Cole (December 8, 2023). "Texas A&M Aggies WR Ainias Smith Declares For 2024 NFL Draft, Will Coach In Bowl Game". Texas A&M Aggies On SI. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  15. ^ "Ainias Smith Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  16. ^ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Ainias Smith College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  17. ^ Karels, Carter (March 19, 2024). "Texas A&M Pro Day results: 18 former Aggie players audition for NFL teams". 247Sports.com. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  18. ^ Gowton, Brandon Lee (April 27, 2024). "NFL Draft Results: Eagles pick Ainias Smith at No. 152". Bleeding Green Nation. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  19. ^ "Get your first look at the Eagles' initial 53-man roster". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. August 27, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  20. ^ McMullen, John (October 26, 2024). "Eagles Activate Rookie WR". SI.com. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  21. ^ "Ainias Smith 2024 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  22. ^ McManus, Tim (January 6, 2025). "Eagles' rookie WR Ainias Smith scores first TD vs. Giants". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  23. ^ Wilson, Aaron (August 28, 2018). "Football is a family affair for Dolphins' Maurice Smith, brother Ainias Smith". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  24. ^ Rittenberg, Adam (July 20, 2022). "Texas A&M Aggies football player Ainias Smith arrested on DWI, weapon, marijuana charges". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 23, 2024.