Cheetah Numbers: Anthony Smith and the Speed Behind the Stopwatch

CHEETAH NUMBERS 🐆

3.90 Short Shuttle
4.32 40-Yard Dash

Those are the types of numbers that turn heads during the NFL Draft process.

And this offseason, one of the athletes putting up those numbers is wide receiver Anthony Smith from East Carolina University.

At 6'3" and around 189 pounds, Smith has built a reputation as a vertical threat — the kind of receiver who can stretch the field and flip momentum with one play. But his journey to becoming an NFL Draft prospect wasn’t overnight.

From Development to Breakout

Smith began his college career at NC State, where he spent four seasons developing his game before transferring to East Carolina. The move gave him an opportunity to step into a larger role — and he made the most of it.

Over his college career between the two programs, Smith has recorded:

• 118 receptions

• 2,095 receiving yards

• 17 touchdowns

At East Carolina specifically, he quickly became a big-play weapon, averaging nearly 18 yards per reception, a number that reflects his ability to consistently win downfield and create explosive plays.

During the 2025 season, Smith led the Pirates’ receiving corps with:

• 64 catches

• 1,053 yards

• 7 touchdowns

Those numbers placed him among the top receiving threats in the American Athletic Conference and put him firmly on the radar for NFL scouts.

But statistics only tell part of the story.

Turn on the tape and you’ll see a receiver who combines size, stride length, and deep-ball tracking ability with a burst that shows up when the stopwatch starts running.

When Speed Shows Up on the Clock

The NFL Draft process is built around moments.

The moment a player runs the 40.
The moment a scout checks the shuttle time.
The moment a receiver separates deep down the field.

For Anthony Smith, the stopwatch backed up what the film already showed.

3.90 Short Shuttle
4.32 in the 40

Those are cheetah numbers.

The kind of numbers that confirm what defensive backs already know when they line up across from him.

You don’t give a receiver like that space.

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