While it took Virginia Tech 177 picks before James Mitchell became the first Hokie selected in the 2022 NFL Draft, it only took 38 more for Virginia Tech to reach 4 Hokies selected with Lecitus Smith becoming the fourth and heading west.
Round 6, No. 215 overall: @AZCardinals select @HokiesFB OG Lecitus Smithhttps://t.co/kgdxiwnfvK#NFLDraft
— NFL Draft (@NFLDraft) April 30, 2022
Lecitus Smith was selected in the sixth round (215th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. Smith becomes the fourth Hokie selected in this year's draft along with James Mitchell (Detroit), Amare Barno (Carolina), and Luke Tenuta (Buffalo).
Smith is the seventh-highest selected Virginia Tech offensive guard in NFL Draft history.
Smith earned a starting job during the 2018 season and never looked back as a three-year starter for the Hokies after he arrived in Blacksburg as a tight end (though his HS tape showed loads of potential at guard that he fulfilled).
Smith was also a multiple-time All-ACC honoree at Virginia Tech and seemed like someone who was poised to be picked sooner than the compensatory section of the sixth round. While he is a better run blocker than pass blocker, Smith showed the skills to at minimum be a quality backup in the NFL for years and has plenty of potential to develop into a starter early in his career.
It wouldn't surprise me if people look back and wonder how a three-year Power 5 starter and multi-time All-ACC honoree fell all the way to 215th overall.
We will have more as this story develops.
