It has been a long journey for former Iowa wide receiver Brandon Smith. Smith has bounded between practice squads and the UFL after going undrafted in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Smith's stats with the Hawkeyes did not jump off the page, causing him to fall out of the 2021 NFL Draft.
In four years with the Hawkeyes (2017-2021), Smith accumulated 1,046 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 91 receptions in 39 games.
Smith's best season in a Hawkeye uniform came during the 2019-202 season where he tallied 439 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 37 receptions.
Smith has the athletic ability and size (six-foot-one, 218 pounds) to make an impact, but has never really had the chance to show what he can do at the NFL level.
After going undrafted in 2021, Smith signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent and was constantly waived and resigned to the practice squad.
Following a two-year stint with the Cowboys, Smith headed to the XFL in 2023 and played for the DC Defenders.
In eight games with the Defenders, Smith caught eight passes for 118 yards and a touchdown. When the XFL season ended, he signed with the Arizona Cardinals, but was waived in August 2023.
After failing to sign with another NFL team, Smith headed back to the Defenders, this time in the UFL. Following his second stint with the Defenders, Smith was signed to the Jets' practice squad, where he spent last season.
Before the 2025-2026 season, Smith is finally getting his chance to shine in the NFL, and he has made the most of his opportunity.
"WR Brandon Smith has been making plays since OTAs. That's one guy I probably haven't talked about enough. I like where he's at, & he's steadily improving on a daily basis."- Aaron Glenn#Jets pic.twitter.com/RnIEsJRt6Y
— Harrison Glaser (@NYJetsTFMedia) August 13, 2025
New Jets Head Coach Aaron Glenn singled out Smith as a player who has been impressive and has not been talked about enough.
Glenn said he has been making plays since OTAs, and he is improving on a daily basis.
Smith has been taking first-team reps at practice and has been making plays alongside new Jets quarterback Justin Fields.
If he can continue making plays, there is a good chance that Brandon Smith will make the 53-man roster, and all Hawkeye fans hope to see him in action this season.