Diamond Talk: Eli Smith, OT, Kansas Wesleyan | NAIA Football’s Towering Tackle
Eli Smith is a towering tackle from the NAIA, playing for Kansas Wesleyan. The 6-feet-8, 292-pound offensive tackle who moves well for a big man. He recently sat down with NFL Draft Diamonds owner Damond Talbot for this Prospect Interview.
He was a basketball player at KWU for two seasons before switching to football.
Smith played eight-man football at West Elk High School but wasn’t a lineman. He weighed 213 pounds when he quit basketball and has gained 74 pounds entering his third season.
Smith is a heavyweight in the classroom, too. He carries a 4.0-grade average, has earned his undergraduate degree and is working on a Master’s degree.
Coming off an astonishing 2018 effort, Kansas Wesleyan was undefeated in the KCAC (10-0), and won the first two NAIA playoff games in program history and become the first conference school to advance to the national semifinals, KWU was tabbed the odds-on favorite to win the title again this fall.
Remember the name of Eli Smith. I know the football fans are not aware of Eli Smith, but trust me NFL scouts are well aware of him.
NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission. We have several contributors on this site, and if they contribute their name and contact will be in the piece above. You can email me at nfldraftdiamonds@gmail.com