Eagles take WR Smith; Patriots pick Robinson
COLLEGE STATION — Ainias Smith, who showed a willingness to help Texas A&M’s program however needed over the past five years, now has an NFL home.
The Philadelphia Eagles selected Smith, a former Dulles High star, in the fifth round of the NFL draft on Saturday. A&M offensive lineman Layden Robinson of Manvel High was a fourth-round selection of the New England Patriots.
The duo joined linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (second round to Green Bay) and defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson (third round to Cincinnati Bengals) as the four A&M draft picks this year. A&M hasn’t had more than four selections in a draft since 2019 (seven).
Smith, known for his perpetually positive approach and persistent hustle on the field, led A&M with 53 catches for 795 receiving yards last season in totaling 1,204 all-purpose yards while coming off a leg fracture in 2022.
“He is not afraid at all,” ESPN draft analyst Louis Riddick said of Smith, younger brother of former NFL defensive back Maurice Smith. “He will go into traffic and he does not ‘alligator arm’ anything. He can also line up on the outside … he’s like a video game the way he can get defensive backs to turn, and the run after the catch is his thing.”
Smith wound up with 4,008 career all-purpose yards, including 2,407 receiving yards, 836 punt return yards, 405 yards rushing and 360 kick return yards over five seasons at A&M. His 2022 season was limited to four games because of the injury.
Smith is the only receiver in SEC history with more than 2,000 receiving yards to also have at least 250 career yards each as a rusher, punt returner and kick returner, according to A&M.
One of his most memorable moments as an Aggie occurred when he agreed to play running back in the 2019 Texas Bowl against Oklahoma State because of injuries and transfers at the position. Smith wound up with seven carries for 54 yards to go with two catches for 13 yards in the Aggies’ 24-21 victory over the Cowboys.
Smith was picked in the first five rounds despite the discovery of a stress fracture in his left shin during the NFL combine in late February and early March in Indianapolis. Smith said he was disappointed in his pro day numbers overall at A&M in March, but NFL personnel assured him it was “all smooth because I (was) running on a broken leg.”
For his part, Robinson was a three-year starter for then-A&M coach Jimbo Fisher at guard.
“The biggest part of my game is I’m a grinder,” Robinson said Saturday following his selection. “It’s been instilled in me for years, especially with my coaching staff at Texas A&M. Just be a grinder, be tough and be gritty and go after people over and over again. That’s my play style.”
Robinson (6-3, 302) said he considers former Dallas Cowboys star offensive lineman Larry Allen a role model in the business.
“I’ve always liked watching players and their tendencies, and asking, ‘What do they have that I can add to my game?’” Robinson said. “One time I clicked on a video of top 100 offensive linemen (of all time), and Larry Allen popped up. I said, ‘Wow, I like his play style. This is amazing, I want to play like this.’”
Robinson played for multiple offensive line coaches at A&M under Fisher, and ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said Robinson will benefit from big-league coaching.
“You expected Layden Robinson to be a dominant performer week in and week out,” Kiper said. “There were some games where it was, this guy is going to be starting in the NFL, and in other games he was disappointing to me. As a run blocker, he has the core power to drive opponents off the ball, but his hand placement at times was lacking.
“He needs coaching and he needs to be more consistent, but on any given weekend you saw a guy on a Saturday go out and play on a level of a first- or second round pick. But he didn’t maintain it, and that’s why he ended up in the fourth round.”