New York Jets fourth-round rookie Arian Smith is excited to show off that elite speed. With hellbent focus, he’s intent on being one of the best wideouts in the NFL, period. Clocked at an eye-popping 4.28 seconds in the 40-yard dash during his college career at Georgia, Smith’s upside is apparent. Yet shadows remain, chiefly his up-and-down performance. Last year, he posted an 11.8% drop rate — one of the worst in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
Smith’s success in the league may very well depend on his ability to cut down on these drops, something he’s self-aware enough to admit as a worry. Through these challenges, he still pushes to accomplish these goals, telling us, “I want to be a complete receiver.”
Aaron Glenn honed his craft in Detroit, serving as the Lions’ assistant strength and conditioning coach. Now, Smith is getting trained by the New York Jets’ head strength and conditioning coach, Corey Smith. For Smith, this transition makes a big statement about her career trajectory. His goal should be to improve and cut out the errors that have held him back from playing how he’s capable of.
Meanwhile, the New York Jets invited Armand Membou to join their squad. He’s guaranteed a lucrative rookie contract expected to be around $31.9 million, fully guaranteed for four years. Membou has yet to practice with the veteran players but expressed excitement about his new contract, saying, “It was pretty cool, especially once I looked at all those zeros on the page. I didn’t realize how much money I was getting.”
Giovanni Williams, a non-roster player who joined the team during the rookie minicamp, adds an interesting backstory. Weighing 350 pounds in high school, Williams represents a unique addition to the Jets’ roster as they seek to bolster their offensive line.
Jeremy Ruckert has trap game written all over him. He sure looks poised to assume a bigger workload this year. Following Tyler Conklin’s departure to the Los Angeles Chargers, Ruckert’s involvement in the offense may increase. He expressed confidence about his current state, stating, “This is the best I’ve felt in my career, going into the season — physically, mentally, emotionally.”
Erik Korem, Director of Player Performance, Jets. The real other half of Moore’s genius is his equally important role in getting the players physically prepared to withstand the rigors and punishment of an NFL season. Read about how Justus Jones is taking on his new role as director of player development. He is committed to creating a community where every player can flourish and become their best self.
The Jets organization understands that player development is more than just physical performance. That also means tackling the mental and emotional side of things. Though Arian Smith agrees with this more holistic approach, he maintains that self-accountability is essential to truly holding yourself accountable and growing as an individual.
He stated, “I’m not the type of person that ever runs from stuff I did. Whether I earned it, and whether it’s my fault, I’m not the type of person that makes excuses on anything. So it definitely gives me motivation.”
Smartly showing restraint, yet prepared to take advantage of required aggressiveness, Smith’s rookie season with the Jets presents a unique set of challenges. His unprecedented speed sets the stage for possibility. In order to win, he’s got to clean up his game and find a level of consistency to his efforts.
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