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Position: OT
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 300
Year: Senior
Hometown: Decatur, GA
Twitter: @wahoo_young
Eric Smith returns to the Hoos for his senior year and heads a strong group of experienced offensive tackles. Along with Sadiq Olanrewaju, Michael Mooney, and Jack English, Smith provides talent and size to the line, as well as two straight years of experience starting at right tackle. In fact, Smith started every game at the position during his second and third years (though he's also seen time on the left side of the line).
Smith garnered a few preseason all conference awards last year and was a three-star recruit for 247sports coming out of high school. He made an early impact at UVa and was only the fourth Wahoo to ever start a game at tackle as a true freshman when he did so in 2013.
He's a talented and experienced senior leader for the team and should provide some stability to an offense transitioning to a new scheme. Offensive Coordinator Robert Anae's offense has the potential to be drastically different than that of recent UVa teams, so a smart and prepared o-line will be a critical need towards early success. If Smith and his upperclassmen brethren stay healthy, I expect the transition to go smoothly and for the exterior of the line to be a strength in this year's offense.