Overview: Smith is a twitchy corner with elite movement skills. He can stick his man outside and in the slot. His speed allows him to use his trail technique then undercut in/out-breaking routes. Even on hitches or comebacks, he explodes out of his backpedal to jump routes. Versus taller WRs or on 50/50 balls, he times his jumps and deflects the ball with one hand or plucks it out of the air with two. As a tackler, he converts speed to power and smacks whoever has the ball. Looking forward, Smith projects as a man corner who can play on the boundary and excel in just about any coverage.

Delaware’s Yaheem Smith Yaheem Smith 5'10" | 180 lbs | DB Salesianum (DE) | 2026 State MD Emerging as One of the Region’s Top Ballhawks

Yaheem Smith Yaheem Smith 5'10" | 180 lbs | DB Salesianum (DE) | 2026 State MD is making a name for himself as one of the most physical and instinctive defensive backs in Delaware. The Philly native currently holds seven Division I offers, including his hometown program Temple, Syracuse University, and most recently West Virginia State. As his senior season approaches, Smith is positioning himself as a sleeper in the 2025 class with serious upside.

At cornerback, Smith plays with the mentality of an enforcer. He attacks the ball in the air with aggression and confidence, routinely winning contested catches or taking the ball away from receivers outright. That ball-hawking ability led to six interceptions last season, a testament to both his instincts and anticipation in coverage.

But Smith isn’t just dangerous in the air. He brings that same level of aggression as a tackler. He plays low, drives through contact, and consistently wraps up for sure tackles in space. At 6 feet with solid frame and athleticism, he has the physical profile and skill set that college coaches covet in a boundary corner.

If Smith continues to perform at the level he showed last season, don’t be surprised to see more Power Five programs enter the conversation. With his size, production, and playmaking mentality, he’s a name to watch in Delaware as the fall unfolds.

Smith’s highlight film is strong, featuring multiple interceptions, which show him taking great angles to make the plays. He’s very good at reading the quarterback’s eyes and breaks on the ball well. I’m impressed with his off-man technique and zone coverage. Smith is physical against the run and not afraid to come up and make tackles. He has a strong football IQ and shows excellent awareness and route recognition. Smith’s backpedal is smooth, and he transitions well.

Yaheem was another standout player from Salaesianum’s big win over Episcopal (PA). He was a shut down corner all game long as he snagged one impressive INT and had multiple tackles and PBUs. His interception came in a key moment when the game was still tight and Episcopal was driving deep into Sallies territory. Yaheem stayed in-phase with the WR all route long, read the route and under cut the pass to grab the pic. A very impressive play that showed Yaheem’s skill set as a DB.

While only 5’10” Yaheem still possess great length, big hands, and really fluid hips. He can play in the slot as a nickel corner or out wide and is shut down at both. Good in 1v1 coverage, Yaheem is smooth in his transitions, quick to turn and run and has shown great improvement in his overall technique over the last year. With his versatility and skill set Yaheem is an offer kid in my mind and Power 4/FBS schools should be taking strong notice of him this fall.