NFL Draft Prospect Preview With Toledo DB Avery Smith

NFL Draft Prospect Preview With Toledo DB Avery Smith

From Stripe Sports by Bleav, Stripe Sports

April 23, 2026 · 13 min

About this episode

Avery Smith discusses his transition from quarterback to cornerback and his preparation for the NFL Draft.

We sat down with Toledo DB Avery Smith ahead of the NFL Draft to break down his journey, development, and what he’s bringing to the next level. Avery takes us through his unique transition from quarterback to cornerback and how that offensive background gives him an edge in reading routes and making plays on the ball. He opens up about the biggest jump in his game from year two to year three and what clicked for him as he elevated his performance. We also dive into his strong showing at the Shrine Bowl and why that opportunity was so important in proving himself against top competition. Avery shares the traits he believes will translate immediately to the NFL, along with the areas he’s focused on improving as he continues to grow. Beyond his own game, we talk about the rise of Toledo defensive backs and what’s driving that culture, plus the corners in this class he thinks are flying under the radar. He also gives us a glimpse into draft night—who he’s celebrating with first—and his favorite sports memory growing up. An inside look at one of the most under-the-radar DB prospects in this year’s class Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for…

People in this episode

Guest: Avery Smith

Topics covered

  • NFL Draft
  • Avery Smith
  • Toledo DB
  • cornerback
  • football journey
  • sports culture

Keywords

  • Avery Smith
  • NFL Draft
  • Toledo DB
  • cornerback
  • Shrine Bowl
  • football
  • sports

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Toledo

More episodes of Stripe Sports

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Stripe Sports podcast page.