#18

Kobe Smith

DE · Duke · Fr. · #18

Returning to Duke for 2026
Fr. · Chattanooga, Tenn. → Red Bank
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This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Kobe Smith

DE · Duke · Fr · #18

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
No recruit profile
CFB
College
Duke
2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2025Duke9-5HC: Manny Diaz · Balanced

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Duke1040.00.0------
Career1040.00.0------

How he plays

Play style

Holds up snap after snap without a weakness to attack.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Duke

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Defensive end · Duke

Returning around him

  • 18% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
  • 3 Duke players drafted to NFL
  • Transfer portal: +2 net (19 in / 17 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Duke · Last season: 9-5 · Talent rank #58 · 2026 recruiting class #71

DNA match

Player DNA

Versatile End

No single standout number, but nothing missing either — competent across the board.

EDGE

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Sterling Lane’s 2024 season.

Arizona · 2024

#2

Devin Martinez

Texas State · 2023

79%
#3

Ezra Odinjor

UAB · 2024

74%
#4

Zach Neilsen

Tulsa · 2023

71%
#5

Shane Payton Hodges

Jacksonville State · 2025

68%

Matches Sterling on

Height
Weight
TFL rate

Differs from Sterling on

Class year (lower)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Ashton Woods's freshman season at West Virginia (2025).

Ashton Woods

100%match

West Virginia · 2025

#2

Charlie Gray

Marshall · 2020

93%
#3

Brent Gordon Jr.

Louisiana · 2025

92%
#4

Priest Ashe

Louisiana · 2025

90%
#5

Nick Giacolone

New Mexico State · 2021

88%

Matches Ashton on

Class year
Height
Sack rate

Heisman trajectory

Heisman futures · sportsbook market

#8 in market ▼ from #6 · 4 books

+10009.1% implied

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #11658

Final rank
#11658
Avg #11980.7
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #11658 this season.

Background

2026: Returning defensive end ... 2025 Academic All-ACC selection ... in 18 career games, has compiled 10 tackles, one caused fumble and two QB pressures ... recorded one tackle in six contests and a career-high four at Syracuse in 2025 ... credited with a caused fumble at California in 2025 … bo...

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