DJ Hill-Smith, Jackson State DB: the 2026 season story
DJ Hill-Smith is a senior defensive back for Jackson State (SWAC). He ranks 1673rd of 1,841 defensive backs in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every defensive back on the measures that matter at the position, adjusted for the opponents he faced.
Scouting report
Why it matters. Knowing the one or two things a player does best, and where he is ordinary, says more than any single total. DJ Hill-Smith's strongest measure is yards per catch on his record at 3.5, 21st of 921 (the average is 11.6). His weakest is tackles per game at 1.0, 922nd of 921 (the average is 3.7).
Season production
Why it matters. Totals reward staying healthy and getting the ball; per-game numbers show how much he really carries each week. His tackles per game, 1.0, ranks 922nd among 921 ranked defensive backs.
Against every defensive back
Why it matters. Splitting the measures into how much, how well and how many big plays shows what kind of defensive back he is. Among ranked defensive backs he sits, on average, in the 1st percentile for volume, 49th for efficiency and 1st for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. A season average can hide a player who is great one week and absent the next; game by game shows how dependable he is. Over 8 games, DJ Hill-Smith's best came in week 5 against Alabama A&M and his quietest in week 1 against a non-Division I team.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. Where and how a player makes his plays shows how his team uses him and what a defense has to take away.
National and conference
Why it matters. A national rank shows how a player stacks up beyond his own league, where the competition can be very different. DJ Hill-Smith is 803rd of 920 FCS defensive backs and 77th of 90 in the SWAC. Next up nationally is Jace Williams of Northwestern State, 0.00 ahead on the index.
Defensive backs like him
Why it matters. Comparing a player with his closest statistical matches puts his season in context beyond the rankings. His closest match this season is Cooper Aurilia of Stetson.
