Cleveland Heights defensive end Tyreke Smith released his Top 5 on Friday. The list consisted of Alabama, Penn State, Oregon, USC, and Ohio State.
Smith (6-4 252) is rated a 4-star prospect and the No. 4 weakside defensive end in the nation per the 247Sports Composite. He added an offer from Stanford this week as well. He also holds offers from Michigan, LSU, Georgia, Notre Dame, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, and Youngstown State.
Smith has visited Ohio State twice this month and is viewed by most as a Buckeye lean. He is currently out in Oregon at The Opening.
Originally from California, Smith moved to Ohio in the eighth grade and did not grow up an Ohio State fan.
“It’s building, but I’m from California,” Smith told reporters at Michigan’s satellite camp at John Carroll University earlier in the month. “I grew up there. I lived there for 13 years. So, Ohio State? It doesn’t really have a pull to me as an Ohio kid. I just look at every school the same. I don’t really care about the rivalry. I just want to build relationships with them.”
While Smith is listed as a weakside defensive end, he could grow into a three technique defensive tackle down the road like another former Cleveland prospect. The Buckeyes already have a pair of defensive ends committed in Brenton Cox and Andrew Chatfield, and are after 5-star Pennsylvania prospect Micah Parsons as well.
With the way Ohio State rotates their defensive ends, four in a class wouldn’t be out of the question. In fact, that would seem to be the intention.
Top247 DE Tyreke Smith has arrived at @TheOpening in #Buckeyes gear: https://t.co/u6BTmc1iOn pic.twitter.com/lhFw2cKmk7
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong247) June 30, 2017
[Tyreke Smith photo courtesy 247Sports.com]
“I don’t really care about the rivalry.” Grounds for immediate disqualification.
LOL. He’s not the first to say that, but if he chooses Ohio State, he’ll learn quickly.