NFL rookie corner and former USC Trojan Jaylin Smith has been making a name for himself in training camp. On Saturday, he put a finishing touch on his first great impression with the Houston Texans, collecting the first interception of his NFL career.
Here is Cole Thompson’s brief breakdown of Jaylin Smith’s first interception and the aftermath:
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“Jaylin Smith is making plays. The Houston Texans’ rookie cornerback made sure to make the most of his afternoon and jolted the defense in the third quarter to another scoring drive. While in coverage against Carolina Panthers wide receiver Hunter Renfrow, Smith saw a chance to shift inside and record his first interception. Houston took an early 7-0 lead on a 6-yard touchdown reception from C.J. Stroud to Nico Collins. Since then, the defense has been the backbone of the game, forcing three turnovers.”
Jaylin Smith is a talented and versatile corner. He is giving the Texans every reason to make him part of their defensive rotation. Preseason is when players such as Jaylin Smith can go out there, make an impact, and change how they are previously viewed. Jaylin Smith is helping his case to get an opportunity to be an impactful rookie.
For the Trojans, that would make two years in a row where they had two defensive backs become key contributors and overachievers for their defense in their rookie season. (Calen Bullock is the 2024 example.) With his performance on Saturday, Jaylin Smith is on the right track to reach elevated NFL status.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football star Jaylin Smith gets first NFL interception in victory