Some of the Illinois football players who are no longer with the program hold a special place in my heart.
There are a lot of the Illini players who stuck around the program and didn’t transfer out. They could have departed, though. There was a coaching change, and this gave these players an excuse to get out.
But quite a few players stuck with the Orange and Blue. Kendall Smith was one of those players, and now he is heading to the NFL. After the draft had concluded, Smith ended up being signed by the Washington Commanders.
Hail to the Commanders!#Illini // #HTTO // #famILLy // @Kendallsmith_23 pic.twitter.com/5xEabTC2kZ
— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) April 29, 2023
The Washington Commanders are getting a versatile player in former Illinois football defensive back Kendall Smith
Coming out of Bolingbrook High School in Illinois, Smith actually had recruiting attention. He was a three-star talent and the No. 999 player in the class of 2017. He had just about every MAC program offering him a scholarship, but Smith would end up choosing the Illini.
Smith was an active part of the team in all five seasons. He started out at wide receiver and special teams but was then moved to the defensive side of the ball in 2018.
As a safety, Smith was asked to fill in when players were hurt or needed a breather. In his final season with the program, he would really take a step forward with his career. Smith would start in eight games and finish with 40 tackles, five interceptions, and five pass deflections. His senior season is what got him signed because I don’t think he was on anyone’s radar coming into 2022.
The Commanders are now getting a player who has played both sides of the ball. Smith was a true ballhawk this past season, and that has a ton of value in the NFL. Look for him and the Commanders’ draft pick, Quan Martin, to have nice long careers.