The UCLA Bruins didn’t have a single player taken in the 2026 NFL Draft but following the draft on Saturday defensive tackle Gary Smith III signed as an undrafted free agent with the Las Vegas Raiders.Smith got an up close and personal look at his new quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, during their college days. Mendoza, the draft’s No. 1 overall pick, picked apart Smith and the Bruin defense in a 56-6 drubbing this past season.Smith won’t be worried about Mendoza however, as now he’ll have to focus on earning a spot on an NFL roster, or even an NFL practice squad. The Raiders made 10 picks in this year’s draft but they didn’t focus too much on their interior defensive line, taking only Brandon Cleveland in the seventh round with the No. 229 overall pick.Smith played five college seasons, spending his first two years with Duke before spending the next three with the Bruins in Westwood.
The best statistical season in Smith’s college career came in 2023, when he posted 2.0 sacks, 3.0 tackles for losses and 21 tackles in 10 games.UCLA was without Smith for the entire 2024 season due to an injury. Smith came back this year and appeared in all 12 games for the Bruins. Smith recorded 40 tackles but had only 0.5 sacks and 1.5 TFL.Even though his college numbers were modest, at 6’2” and 340 lbs, Smith has the mass to get an opportunity at the NFL level. Now it’s just a matter of Smith making the most of his chance in training camp this summer.This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA's defensive lineman Gary Smith III signs with the Raiders