Photo: Dustin Safranek-USA TODAY Sports
Texas A&M Football

So long, Sub Zero: Ainias Smith will enter the 2024 NFL Draft

By Olin Buchanan
December 8, 2023

Receiver Ainias Smith, the most explosive player on the Texas A&M offense, announced on Friday that he is entering the 2024 NFL Draft. His announcement came via Instagram.

http://instagr.am/p/C0mSVGFuWaC

It was announced last week that he would not play in the 2023 TaxAct Texas Bowl due to injury.

His announcement brings to an end an impressive and versatile five-season career.

A three-star recruit from Fort Bend Dulles High School in 2019, Smith leaves A&M with 180 receptions, 2,407 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also averaged 10.2 yards on 82 punt returns. Smith returned punts for touchdowns against South Carolina in 2021 and against Arkansas this season.

Though Smith played five seasons, he still has a year of eligibility as the 2020 pandemic season does not count against a player’s eligibility.

Also, Smith redshirted in 2022 because he only appeared in four games. He sustained a season-ending injury in a 23-21 victory over Arkansas.

Smith caught 16 passes for 190 yards in his freshman season. However, depth issues resulted in his moving to running back for the Texas Bowl. He rushed for 54 yards on seven carries in a 24-21 victory over Oklahoma State.

As a sophomore, he opened the 2020 season as the Aggies’ starting running back. He rushed for 51 yards on 10 carries and scored a touchdown in a 17-12 victory over Vanderbilt.

However, Isaiah Spiller rushed for 117 yards in that game. That enabled Smith to shift back to receiver.

As a full-time receiver, he caught 43 passes for 564 yards and six touchdowns in 2020. The next season, he had 47 catches for 509 yards and six touchdowns.

Last season, Smith had only 15 catches for 291 yards and two touchdowns before the injury against Arkansas.

However, he came back this season to catch 53 passes for 795 yards and two touchdowns.


Discussion from...
So long, Sub Zero: Ainias Smith will enter the 2024 NFL Draft
8,287 Views | 19 Replies
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lagoag
10:35a, 12/8/23
Good luck to you Ainias, you're one of my favorite players. Now go and be a star in the NFL.
TAMU74
10:38a, 12/8/23
Thanks for all you did at A&M Ainias.
You always played hard and were exciting to watch.
Good luck in the NFL.
Will be watching.
Detmersdislocatedshoulder
10:41a, 12/8/23
ainias smith is a fantastic player and why stars are not everything. dude is a four year starter and was a theee star out of high school. wish we had 20 more sub zeros

best of luck to one hell of a player.
SA-AG72
11:18a, 12/8/23
We'll miss you Ainias! Give ''em Hell in the NFL!!!
AgOutsideAustin
12:13p, 12/8/23
Baller
bulverdeaggie93
12:24p, 12/8/23
great Aggie.. has been great for the program… but on a national level, won't be surprised if he goes as a UDFA
Maroon Flash
1:17p, 12/8/23
Not the biggest player but has the biggest heart. Great comeback year!
CapCityAg89
1:24p, 12/8/23
Now THIS decision makes sense. Good luck Ainias! Thank you for everything you've done for A&M football.
txag72
1:47p, 12/8/23
Congrats and apologies for being maybe the most under utilized talent ever from A&M.
alamogeorge
2:06p, 12/8/23
You left it all on the field every single game. Thanks and gig 'em!
"You may all go to hell, and I will go to Aggieland!" -Davy Crockett
redjalapeno-87
3:51p, 12/8/23
I respect his decision!
Stone44
5:57p, 12/8/23
High character player who played for the name on the front of his jersey, not the back. One of my all time favorite Aggies! You will be successful in any field you enter. Keep the great attitude.
leardriver
6:14p, 12/8/23
A great player. Pleasure to watch. But is he taking a pay cut? Maybe.

CB, '67
Sometimes if you want a different answer, you have to ask a different question.
WC94
7:00p, 12/8/23
He has excellent tape this year, I believe he gets drafted.
sharpdressedman
7:26p, 12/8/23
One of my all time favorites. Thanks for a GREAT career at TAMU, and best wishes for success in the NFL!
SilverTaps86
7:51p, 12/8/23
Good luck Anias!!! You are a true Aggie with an Aggie heart!!
Magpie
8:20p, 12/8/23
Love this guy and his YAC. He was always fighting for yards. Will miss him greatly. One of my all time faves. More power to him and best of luck to a great Ag player.
czar_iv
8:59a, 12/9/23
Big fan of Ainias Smith especially because of his leadership on this team!
"Can I Ask What Exactly Is An Aggie? Sure! An Aggie is quite simply the best thing anyone can strive to be!" - Sydney Colson
BartInLA
12:06p, 12/9/23
The name I most wanted to hear watching games was yours. You got so many yards after the catch. I sometimes thought of you as a running back.
You represented A&M well on and off the field. Thank you! NFL bound.
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