Palmetto's Chris Smith hopes to land with NFL team

Chris Smith has come a long way since his high school days at Palmetto, earning a scholarship to Northern Illinois after going the junior college route.

Now the 5-10, 186 pound defensive back hopes to take another leap and make to the NFL.
Smith is trying to become another Manatee County standout who made his way into the NFL as a cornerback joining Mike Jenkins (Southeast), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Lakewood Ranch) and Fabian Washington (Bayshore).

NFL Draft Scout says if Smith makes it into an NFL camp he will likely go as a free agent. The organization rates him 51st out of more than 200 cornerbacks eligible for this year’s draft; if there is one pending the outcome of negotiations between the players association and owners.

Smith was selected to the 2010 All Mid-American Conference First Team Defense and was named NIU’s Defensive Back of the Year. He had a team high nine pass break-ups, which was third in the league and picked off three passes.

Smith played at Highland Community College where he was ranked the 49th best JUCO prospect in the country. One scouting report lists him as a strong tackler who has the talent to make an NFL team. NFL Draft Scout puts his 40-yard dash time around the 4.53 second mark.