Penn State Football: Brandon Smith Declares for NFL Draft, Will Skip Outback Bowl

Penn State linebacker Brandon Smith will not participate in the Outback Bowl and will enter the upcoming NFL Draft he announced on Friday afternoon. In turn the junior will forgo his senior season at Penn State.

“I [would like] to thank all the coaches across the country who believed in me and gave me multiple opportunities to play at the Division I level. I realize many either take the opportunity for granted or don’t even get the chance at all.” Smith wrote in a tweet.

“With that being said, I am going to forgo m senior year and the bowl game and enter the 2022 NFL Draft. I will continue to work hard and do my best to represent my school and my family to the best of my ability on and off the field. We Are Penn State! Thank You for the many memories and miles, and I am thankful for my time here!”

Smith registered 81 tackles [45 solo] and two sacks this year with a season-high 10 tackles twice, once against Michigan and earlier in the year against Auburn. He also forced one fumble against Illinois.

The Lousia, VA native was in his third season at Penn State this year as a former five-star prospect and member of Penn State’s 2018 recruiting class.

Smith’s draft stock will likely be impacted most by his athleticism, speed and size in the coming weeks and month. All three of Pro Football Networks’ draft analysts list Smith in their Top 100 which would land him somewhere in the first three rounds.

Over the course of his career Smith showed flashes of the kind of player he might one day become, but was also prone to the occasional missed tackle and mistake. There is no denying his tools though, a trait that can’t be taught and will likely serve him well at the next level as he improves as a player.

Smith is the first Penn State player to opt out of the Outback Bowl. Probable first round receiver Jahan Dotson has yet to make an announcement in either direction as Friday evening.