Game No. 1
Prospect to Watch: Maason Smith - IDL (LSU)
Matchup: LSU at Mississippi State
When: Saturday, September 16 at 11:00 p.m. CT on ESPN
Maason Smith flashed signs of being a potential superstar as a freshman at LSU in 2021 and was quickly put on the radar of the 2024 NFL Draft. Smith's 2022 season ended before it really got started as he suffered a torn ACL in their opener, and he was then suspended for the 2023 opener against Florida State for a pre-NIL benefit.
Saturday against Mississippi State will be Maason Smith's first real test as an NFL-eligible prospect. The Vikings have been abysmal against the run for several years now, and adding to the interior of their defensive line seems to be worth looking into next offseason.
Maason Smith has the upside to be a dominant force in the middle. At 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, Smith moves so much better than you would expect for a player of his size. Now the question is whether or not he can play with the same speed and twitch following the knee injury and raise his draft stock this season.
Minnesota knows firsthand just how much an interior pass rush can ruin game plans. They've watched it happen to Kirk Cousins for years, thanks to some poor offensive line play of their own. Targeting a freak athlete with every tool imaginable might be a way to combat their own weaknesses and get the defense back toward the top of the NFL.