TJ Smith, Tulane DB: the 2026 season story
TJ Smith is a defensive back for Tulane (American Athletic). He ranks 379th 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. Every measure is set against every ranked defensive back, so a strength here is a strength against the whole position, not just his own team. TJ Smith's strongest measure is yards per catch on his record at 5.9, 39th of 921 (the average is 11.6). His weakest is tackles per game at 2.5, 714th of 921 (the average is 3.7).
Season production
Why it matters. Volume is the first sign of how much a coaching staff trusts a player. His tackles per game, 2.5, ranks 714th among 921 ranked defensive backs.
Against every defensive back
Why it matters. Volume, efficiency and impact plays can tell different stories: a player can be busy without being effective, or rarely used but dangerous every time. Among ranked defensive backs he sits, on average, in the 23rd percentile for volume, 83rd for efficiency and 68th for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. Consistency matters to a team: one huge game and five quiet ones is a different season from six solid ones. Over 9 games, TJ Smith's best came in week 7 against Memphis and his quietest in week 6 at Army.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. The shape of a player's production, not just its size, is what opponents scout.
National and conference
Why it matters. The Player Index puts every defensive back on one scale, adjusted for the defenses or offenses he faced, so a rank here is comparable across conferences. TJ Smith is 277th of 921 FBS defensive backs and 20th of 95 in the American Athletic. Next up nationally is Marc Woods of Jacksonville State, 0.00 ahead on the index.
Career
Why it matters. A player's track record is the best guide to whether a season like this one is likely to last. This is his best season by the Player Index so far, out of 2 we have.
Defensive backs like him
Why it matters. Players with similar profiles tend to be used the same way, which makes them a quick way to picture his game. His closest match this season is Vicari Swain of South Carolina.
