Indiana left sort out Carter Smith has been named Large Ten Offensive Lineman of the 12 months, the convention introduced Thursday afternoon. Smith is the primary IU participant to ever win the award.
Smith was additionally an All-Large Ten First Group choice. He joins IU quarterback Fernando Mendoza (Large Ten Quarterback of the 12 months, Large Ten Offensive Participant of the 12 months), IU kicker Nico Radicic (Large Ten Kicker of the 12 months) and Curt Cignetti (Large Ten Coach of the 12 months) as particular person convention award recipients.
With Smith anchoring the left aspect, Indiana’s offensive line has allowed solely 15 sacks this season. The 6-foot-5, 313-pound Smith has began all 12 video games this season and helped paved the best way for the nation’s No. 9-ranked dashing offense at 229.8 yards per sport.
Smith has carried out as one of many nation’s finest offensive lineman, permitting simply 5 pressures and 0 sacks this season. He is matched up towards top-50 defenses resembling Illinois, Iowa, Oregon and Penn State, and battled towards prime EDGE rushers like Oregon’s Matayo Uiagelelei and Teitum Tuioti, Illinois’ Gabe Jacas, Maryland’s Sidney Stewart and Penn State’s Dani Dennis-Sutton, amongst others.
Indiana’s offense ranks No. 2 nationally in factors per sport, No. 5 in whole yards per sport, No. 9 in dashing yards per sport and No. 39 in passing yards per sport.
Smith, a redshirt junior, has rapidly climbed NFL Draft boards and is draft-eligible following this season. In response to ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Smith is tabbed because the No. 10 offensive sort out prospect within the 2026 draft. Smith is projected as Day 2 NFL Draft choose, ought to he select to declare.
“I assume the sky is the restrict actually. Would not put a restrict on it,” Cignetti mentioned in fall camp. “I feel he is having a great camp, at the least the primary three days. He was a great participant final 12 months, too. Guys usually enhance from their freshman 12 months to sophomore to junior to senior, I feel you are seeing that with him.
“He is obtained numerous expertise, nice child, excessive character man, be a great chief on this crew additionally. On the lookout for him to have an enormous 12 months for us.”
IU defensive finish Mikail Kamara, a preseason All-American, praised Smith in the course of the offseason for his competitiveness and high-level efficiency.
“Carter, for my part, would be the finest sort out in faculty soccer,” Kamara mentioned in fall camp. “He is an ideal participant. He is good, he is fast, he is robust. He performs rather well together with his method. He throws me a bunch of various units, a bunch of various seems to be. He modifies his stance. He does numerous good issues that will get me pondering, retains me guessing.”
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