Montgomery County native Octavian Smith Jr. is staying close to home as he begins his NFL career.
Smith, a Paint Branch High School graduate from Burtonsville and former University of Maryland wide receiver, has signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent following the 2026 NFL Draft. The signing was announced by Maryland football and reported by multiple outlets Saturday.
Smith is coming off a strong senior season at Maryland, where he was one of the Terps’ most productive offensive players. In 2025, he finished second on the team in receiving yards and third in receptions, while recording at least one catch in every game he played. During the season, he surpassed 100 career receptions and moved into Maryland’s top 20 in career catches.
The Burtonsville native also showed his versatility throughout his college career, contributing as a receiver, rusher and returner. Among his senior-year highlights, Smith went over 1,000 career receiving yards during Maryland’s game at Washington and posted a career-best rushing performance against Wisconsin with 113 yards on six carries.
Before arriving in College Park, Smith was one of the top high school football players in Maryland. At Paint Branch, he was a four-star recruit, the top-ranked offensive player in the state, and the 2021 4A Montgomery County Outstanding Player of the Year. As a senior, he totaled 1,747 yards and 22 touchdowns as a dual-threat quarterback while also making an impact on special teams as a punt and kick returner.
Smith helped lead Paint Branch to a 30-5 record and a trip to the 4A State Quarterfinals, earning First Team All-Met honors before choosing Maryland over Penn State, Northwestern, Virginia and Boston College.
Off the field, Smith has also competed in track and field, with personal bests of 10.88 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.95 seconds in the 200 meters. He has also said he enjoys writing poems, fashion and cars.
