Sophomore defensive back for North Carolina. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
6′4″ · 215 lb · Riverview, FL
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
How he plays
Moves between deep coverage and the slot.
Interceptions: 89th percentile.
The full scouting readThe numbers
interceptions · 2026 · through week 3
3 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 INT, 7 tackles, at Clemson
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
Sophomore defensive back for North Carolina. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
Gregory Smith
Moves between deep coverage and the slot. Gregory Smith has played for two head coaches across three seasons and two programs. The receipt on tape: 6 tackles against TCU, Week 1, 2026.
16 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
His career
Career arc
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
2 coachesCoaching transition mid-career: Freddie Kitchens → Bill Belichick. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | North Carolina | 16 | 9 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 2 | -- |
| 2025 | North Carolina | 20 | 14 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | 1 | -- |
| 2024 | Florida | 5 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| Career | 41 | 26 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 3 | -- |
Game by game
Point color shows the opponent's defensive strength that week (red = weaker defense, blue = stronger) — dashed line is this player's own season average.
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 3 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 15-10@ TCU | 6 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Wk 2 | W 35-3vs East Tennessee State | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Wk 3 | L 20-28@ Clemson | 7 | 3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | Season-high 7 tackles |
| Total | 16 | 9 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 1 |
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 15–10
at TCU
6 tackles · 1 pass breakups · 4 solo tackles
A wire-to-wire battle — won by 5 on the road.
With B. Edwards — 232 yds · 0 TD · 0 INT · QBR 77.2 · -4 rush yds (7 car) · A. Burrell — 41.7 yards per punt · 3 punts · 2 inside the 20
Since week 2: +1 interception, +7 tackles, +1 tackle for loss.
Season context · Team result + system
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Elite: interceptions (89th percentile).
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Defender profile · Production by role
Where his impact shows up on the stat sheet
PD rate
6%1 pass breakupsInterceptions
2interceptionsTackle volume
16tackles this seasonTFL rate
6%1 TFL16 tackles · 1 for loss · 1 pass breakups · 2 interceptions.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 3 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home1g | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Road2g | 6.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-73g | 5.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Bill Belichick
Pass share
46.9%
84 pass / 95 run
Plays / game
59.7
3 games
Team sack rate
6.5%
92 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-leaning, slow tempo.
Player standing · 2026
Tackle volume for the position at the early end of the ladder.
Recognition
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-ACC
Based on 2025: #67 of 74 ACC LBs
15% estimated, 95% confidence interval 13–17%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Play style
Moves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB.
CFB Index positional classification
Player DNA
Moves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB.
His 2026 production profile sits closest to Kyle Hamilton’s 2021 season.
Matches Kyle on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Ace Kaufusi's junior season at BYU (2025).
Matches Ace on
16 more on the roster · North Carolina team page