Drafting the Devils 2018: Tashon Smallwood accepts New Orleans Saints’ minicamp invite

The NFL Draft concluded Saturday, making way for teams to swoop in and claim a plethora of undrafted free agents and send minicamp invitations. Former ASU defensive lineman Tashon Smallwood was one of the lucky ones, as the New Orleans Saints extended a minicamp invite to the Fresno, California native on Monday morning, Brad Denny of Speak of the Devils Podcast reported.

In Tempe, Smallwood racked up 131 total tackles, 31 for a loss and 10.5 sacks in his four-year Sun Devil career.

The 6-foot, 279-pound Smallwood did not get invited to the NFL Combine but he did participate in the ASU Pro Day on March 14. According to draftscout.com, he ran the 40-yard dash in 5.37 seconds which would have put him tied for 30th among the 33 defensive lineman that ran in Indianapolis. His 18 bench press reps, too, would have put him tied for last in his position group.

Smallwood forged himself as a leader on the Sun Devils’ defensive line, cementing himself as a mainstay on ASU’s defense for his four years while dawning the No. 90 right after ASU great Will Sutton left it behind after the Chicago Bears took him in the 2014 NFL Draft.