Preseason anchor at guard: Tristian Smith brings veteran grit and proven pass protection
Tristian Smith enters the 2026 season as a preseason All-Sun Belt first-team pick and one of Arkansas State’s most trusted interior linemen, which tells you plenty about his value before the ball is even snapped. In 2024, he played all 13 games, started the bowl win at right guard, logged 176 snaps, and posted solid Pro Football Focus marks in both pass protection and run blocking; earlier in his career, he also showed the willingness to grind through special-teams duty. He looks like a dependable, physical fit for teams that want a mature, steady interior protector who wins with technique, intelligence, and consistency.
