The former Iowa Hawkeye is preparing for the 2021 NFL Draft with one of the greatest receivers of all-time.
At the conclusion of Iowa football’s 2020 season, several players announced their intention to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft. Among them was senior wide receiver Brandon Smith, who appears to be taking his game to the next level by training with one of the game’s greatest playmakers all-time.
In preparation for the NFL Scouting Combine and the draft, Smith has been working out with former NFL receiver Chad Johnson, who many know as ‘Ocho Cinco’.
On Friday, Smith’s mother posted photos on social media of her son training with Johnson:
https://twitter.com/TyjaunaVance/status/1350227927934361602
Taking tips from one of the greatest route runners ever is probably a great place to start your offseason training. During his time in the NFL, Johnson racked up 11,059 yards and 67 touchdowns on 766 catches, primarily with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was a 6x Pro Bowler and 4x All-Pro.
While Smith may not have posted eye-popping numbers during his time with the Hawkeyes, he possesses prototypical size (6-2, 215) and athleticism that many NFL teams covet in a No. 1 receiver.
At Iowa, Smith played the ‘X’ receiver role as the team’s No. 1 option on the outside. As a split-end, Smith was tasked with lining up right on the line of scrimmage where there’s no cushion when facing press coverage. Armed with XXXL-sized hands and the leaping ability of an NBA dunk champion, he has the catch radius to haul in passes from far outside his range of motion.
Over his career with the Hawkeyes, Smith posted 91 catches for 1,041 yards and nine touchdowns. He was one of Iowa’s best redzone threats over the past three seasons, particularly during the 2019 campaign. The Hawkeyes will certainly miss Smith next season.