disruptive edge presence who produced in 2025
Earnest Smith stood out for Austin Peay in 2025 as a **high-impact DE** who led the Governors’ linemen with **44 tackles**, **4 sacks**, **9 tackles for loss**, and **3 forced fumbles**, showing a knack for creating negative plays and momentum swings[5]. That profile makes him intriguing for teams that want an edge defender who plays with urgency, finishes plays, and can change a game without needing a huge snap count; the stat line suggests real disruption value, though evaluators would still want to confirm his consistency and pass-rush polish on film[5].
