It was a very productive weekend for 4-star linebacker Brandon Smith (Mineral, Virginia). Smith visited Notre Dame on Friday and was offered by the Irish. On Saturday, he visited Ohio State and was extended an offer by the Buckeyes.
Great visit today! Blessed and honored to receive an offer from The Ohio State University! @OhioStateFB @CoachBillDavis #GoBucks #buckeyes pic.twitter.com/YC6NyszAbW
— Brandon Smith (@brand0n_smith12) June 24, 2017
Smith (6-4 215) is a 2019 prospect and rated the No. 6 weakside defensive end in the 247Sports Composite. He is currently rated the No. 72 player in the class overall.
While he is ranked as a defensive end, Smith tells The-Ozone that Ohio State offered him as a linebacker.
He also holds offers from Florida State, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Tennessee, and several others.
Smith participated in a The Opening regional camp back in April and rattled off a 4.72 40-yard dash, a 4.2 shuttle, and a 33.9″ vertical leap. The combination gave him the best SPARQ score among linebackers at the camp.
As a sophomore last season, Smith compiled 75 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and forced three fumbles. He was named First-Team All-Conference for his performance.
There is plenty of debate about what position Smith will eventually end up playing in college, which speaks to his versatility. He can do a number of different things on a football field, and is frequently asked to do exactly that. On one play he may be patrolling the middle, and on the next he may be lined up on the edge to rush the passer. Some schools may even see a tight end. Ohio State, however, feels pretty good about him as a linebacker.
The Buckeyes have had their share of success in Virginia over the last few years, signing defensive back Wayne Davis in 2016, offensive lineman Matt Burrell and tight end A.J. Alexander in 2015, defensive end Jalyn Holmes in 2014, and linebacker Curtis Grant in 2011. Currently, Ohio State also has a verbal commitment from 2018 Virginia linebacker Teradja Mitchell.
According to 247Sports, OSU has now offered 11 linebackers in the 2019 class, including Cade Stover out of Mansfield, Ohio. Stover (6-5 225) is a 4-star prospect and the No. 6 outside linebacker in the nation. He likely projects to defensive end, however. The Buckeyes are also involved with Owen Pappoe, a 5-star outside linebacker from Loganville, Georgia. Pappoe is rated the No. 1 prospect at his position in the nation and the No. 14 player in the class of 2019 overall.
Ohio State does not yet have a 2019 verbal commitment.
