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TNET: Former Clemson safety signing with Falcons
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TNET: Former Clemson safety signing with Falcons


Apr 29, 2018, 8:37 AM

 
Former Clemson safety signing with Falcons

Another Clemson product is headed to the ATL. Former Clemson safety Van Smith is reportedly signing with the Falcons according to multiple reports. The Charlott Read Update »


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Re: TNET: Former Clemson safety signing with Falcons


Apr 29, 2018, 8:48 AM

Congrats and happy for Van but I don't get why he left early unless it was for personal reasons. I enjoyed and appreciated his play for The Tigers.

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Re: TNET: Former Clemson safety signing with Falcons


Apr 29, 2018, 9:18 AM

+1 for why he left early!!!

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He got some bad advice


Apr 29, 2018, 10:59 AM

Hindsight is 20/20, but you don't leave your starting position on a national championship contender to become an UDFA in the NFL. I looked back in January to see the 'expert opinions' and everything I read said he'd go as early as the 2nd round to possibly as late as the 6th round. Welp, they were wrong.

At 5-11, 186 lbs., Van was small for an NFL FS. And he wasn't fast enough to play corner. So, at the NFL combine, all of that was revealed. He ran a 4.61 40, which was among the slowest of the DBs that elected to run. Derwin James and Minkah Fitzpatrick (legit Saftey prospects), both ran in the 4.4s and both are over 200 lbs (205 and 215). The only other event Van did at the draft was the vertical jump where he was dead last at 29.5". By comparison, Derwin James had a 40" vertical jump.

The thing that burns me is that all of those measurements were freely available to Van before he declared for the NFL and got an agent. He knew his height, weight, speed and vertical. And if he had taken those 4 numbers to any true expert, they would've said "you need more time to develop." It's so odd that he ended up leaving early that my subconscious is starting to churn out conspiracy theories.

Anyway... I wish him nothing but the best as he tries to make the Falcons squad.

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Re: He got some bad advice


Apr 29, 2018, 11:24 AM

How would Van returning to Clemson helped his status according to the NFL?

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well it certainly couldn't have hurt barring injury.


Apr 29, 2018, 12:24 PM

I see your point but he might've proved himself in some other remarkable way I don't know. Most of the measurements just indicate he's not NFL material but heart isn't included. Perhaps if he'd returned and we won another Natty he would've been drafted just knowing he was starting safetyfor a championship team. I would've loved for him to come back. You make good points though.

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He wasn't going to get taller or faster***


Apr 29, 2018, 12:51 PM



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You can train for fast


Apr 29, 2018, 10:52 PM

Speed is definitely obtained through training. Guys that run sprints in track can give you a dozen workouts that will improve your speed. Van didn't do those things. I know this because he ran a 4.6+ 40. That is slow.

Heck, maybe that's fast for him... I don't know. But I know it's slow on Clemson's team. Honestly, I was shocked he wasn't faster. But, it is what it is.

Point being... training can make people faster. That's why fast people train.

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Well...


Apr 29, 2018, 2:30 PM [ in reply to Re: He got some bad advice ]

You can obviously train for strength, speed and add good weight. Another year in college where you spend your time working on those attributes and you increase your 40 time, vertical leap and your measurable weight.

You can absolutely get faster, stronger and jump higher with training.

It's all trivial now, but either Van was asked to leave the program or he got some very bad advice.

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Who would ask Van to leave the program?***


Apr 29, 2018, 2:32 PM



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Just to follow the logic train...


Apr 29, 2018, 10:48 PM

There are 3 reasons Van left Clemson:

1) He had some personal stuff come up where he needed to make money and he felt his best option was to leave school and try to make an NFL team. This happens all the time. It wasn't reported with Van, so we don't know.

2) He got some bad advice. Maybe an agent whispered sweet nothings in his ear. I don't know. But anybody with access to his abilities and measurables, AND had his best interest at heart would've said "Dude, you're not yet big enough, or fast enough, or strong enough to make it in the NFL."

3) He wasn't a "workout warrior" at Clemson and was never going to reach his potential because he spent his time doing anything but those dang workouts. Coaches noticed and said "Yeah, you should go."


I have no idea if any of that stuff happened.

But I do know this: He had no business showing up to the NFL Combine and putting up numbers that 50% of his graduating class (including all non-athletes) could have put up with maybe 3 months of trying hard at Gold's Gym. So, he's an UDFA. A 5-hearter. Good luck, and I mean that. But, dude had no business going to the combine and entering the NFL Draft.

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That's quite an imagination, you should write screen plays***


Apr 29, 2018, 11:28 PM



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Re: He got some bad advice


Apr 29, 2018, 6:22 PM [ in reply to He got some bad advice ]

Do I remember him being quoted in an earlier article that personal reasons were a part of his decision, that he needed to leave or am I thinking of someone else?

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Re: He got some bad advice


Apr 29, 2018, 10:56 PM

I looked and found nothing. I would definitely appreciate it if you could share a link to any information as to why he left early. It's weird.

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Re: TNET: Former Clemson safety signing with Falcons


Apr 29, 2018, 11:04 AM

That makes two that are UFA.

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Go Tigers! Once A Tiger Always A Tiger


Re: TNET: Former Clemson safety signing with Falcons


Apr 30, 2018, 12:17 AM

Fingers crossed. Best of luck!!

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