Kentucky pass rusher Za’Darius Smith walked away as the most impressive defensive player in Saturday’s East-West Shrine Game according to several experts associated with the upcoming NFL Draft.

The versatile, 6-foot-6, 270-pound defensive lineman is expected to be a mid-round selection in April, but may have improved his stock overall after being named the defensive player of the game in St. Petersburg, Fla., with several quarterback hurries.

Smith will play in this weekend’s Senior Bowl after teammate and projected first-round pick Bud Dupree recently withdrew from the contest.

NFL Network’s Mike Mayock spoke highly of Smith and Miami defensive end Anthony Chickillo, two players he said ‘made money’ during last weekend’s broadcast.

CBS NFL Draft analyst Rob Rang wrote this in his postgame file on Smith:

Smith was the game’s most disruptive defender, using his combination of burst off the snap and long arms to slip past offensive tackles and harass the quarterback. Smith doesn’t possess the explosiveness as his former teammate and projected first round pick “Bud” Dupree, but he showed a quick first step and balance, a spin move and an effective bull rush in this game and forced an interception. For his efforts, he was named the Defensive Player of the Game.