*Andre Smith | Alabama, OT : 2009 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile

Draft Scout Snapshot: DS Rating on 1/3/09: #1 Junior OT, #5/750 Overall, Projected Rnd: 1/Top 5 in 2010
2008: Consensus All-American first-team selection and recipient of the Outland Trophy, given annually to the nation's best down lineman...All-Southeastern Conference first-team pick and shared the league's Jacobs Blocking Trophy with Arkansas center Jonathan Luigs...Chosen SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week at Arkansas and was selected his team's Offensive Player of the Year...Also captured the offensive line's Up-Front Award for his outstanding blocking...Started 12 games at left offensive tackle and was chosen for the team's Paul Crane Offensive Lineman Award...Sat out the Tulane contest with a right knee sprain; left the season opener vs. Clemson in the third quarter with a left knee sprain and was sidelined for several series vs. Kentucky with an elbow strain...Did not play in the Sugar Bowl vs. Utah after he was declared ineligible due to a team rules violation...Saw action in 710 of the team's 902 offensive plays, but still led the squad with 103 key blocks/ knockdowns and added seven blocks downfield...His 18 touchdown-resulting blocks led the SEC's down linemen...Was penalized twice, as he allowed just one QB sack and six pressures on 334 pass plays...Helped the team rank 30th in the nation and third in the conference in rushing, averaging 184.64 yards per game...That unit also averaged 171.14 yards passing, 30.14 points and 355.79 yards in total offense per game...2007: Was a co-winner of the SEC's Jacobs Blocking Trophy along with Arkansas' Jonathan Luigs ... 2007 Coaches First-Team All-SEC selection ... Started every game at the left tackle position, one of two players to start every game on the offensive line (Mike Jo...2006: A 13-game starter, Smith led all Alabama players with 831 snaps. He was one of five players with 800 snaps. He played at least 65 snaps in 10 of the 13 games and played more than 70 plays five times. Smith led all offensive linemen with 62 knockdown block. He is the cousin of Dominic Lee, a defensive lineman for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Post-Draft Outlook: BEST PICK: Andre Smith should be a rookie starter at offensive tackle. After giving up 51 sacks last year and losing two starters to free agency, the Bengals needed an immediate upgrade to their offensive line. Enter Smith, who has been called a dominant run blocker and a solid pass blocker. He can come in and take over at left tackle for Levi Jones or move to right tackle, where a spot is open after Stacy Andrews left for the Eagles. A closer look at the Bengals' picks: Round 1/6 -- Andre Smith, OT, 6-4, 332, Alabama...The Bengals all along had him as their top-rated tackle. He was the best run blocker of the top four tackles and is also judged to be a solid pass blocker. The Bengals finalized their decision on Thursday when offensive line coach Paul Alexander made a surprise visit to Birmingham, Ala., to meet and weigh Smith. - by The Sports Xchange