4-star DE Brandon Smith talks Ohio State scholarship, visit with Buckeyes

Hitting the recruiting trail hard, Virginia has been one of the states the Ohio State football program has been trying to build a pipeline into over the last few years. A state full of talent, the Buckeyes aren’t done trying to plant their flag in the Old Dominion State just yet.

Coming off a recent verbal pledge from one of Virginia’s top recruits, 2018 linebacker Teradja Mitchell, the Buckeyes have now dealt an offer out to a standout defender from the junior class.

Locking in the scholarship from the OSU coaching staff on Saturday during a visit to the Columbus, Ohio campus, 2019 four-star weak-side defensive end Brandon Smith adds the Buckeyes to an already impressive list of college opportunities.

With well over a dozen offers on the table from programs such as Florida State, Notre Dame, Penn State and Virginia Tech, the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder isn’t holding his chance to play for Urban Meyer, Bill Davis and the Buckeyes lightly.

“Coach Davis extended the offer during my visit. I have been talking with Coach Davis since he visited my school. Definitely means a lot and it's a special offer that I am thankful for. (When I think of Ohio State) I think of rich football tradition,” Smith stated to Land-Grant Holy Land.

While some recruits would’ve been just happy with the offer, the visit to Ohio State gave the All-Conference selection a whole new look into the program.

“The visit went great as a whole. I definitely like the facilities and the whole man concept is definitely nice,” he added on his time at OSU.

Smith, who is listed as a lineman, will first get a shot to play linebacker if he chooses to continue his playing days at Ohio State. A solid pass rusher, last season as a sophomore at Louisa County High School in Mineral, Va., Brandon, the sixth weak-side defensive end and 72nd overall prospect in the 2019 class, per the 247Sports Composite Rankings, accounted for 75 total tackles, 10 quarterback sacks and three forced fumbles to help pace the Lions to an overall record of 8-3.

Highlights

The Buckeyes are still looking for their first 2019 commitment. Will Brandon Smith be it? Stick with the Land-Grant Holy Land recruiting team for the latest developments.

Buckeyes make the cut for 2018 CB

With plans to announce his college commitment in the coming weeks, 2018 cornerback Ken Montgomery Jr. of Tampa’s Hillsborough High, took to this Twitter page on Sunday afternoon to share his top six to the world.

Now left to fight it out for the 6-foot-1, 185-pound senior, are Alabama, OSU, Penn State, UCLA, Ole Miss and Oklahoma.

A three-star prospect, if Montgomery surprisingly selects the Buckeyes in July, he would join a star studded group of defensive backs in Ohio State’s 2018 class. Already holding pledges from fellow Sunshine State corner Sevyn Banks, and safeties Jaiden Woodbey and Josh Proctor, his commitment would certainly help keep OSU as the number one overall recruiting class after they recently jumped past the Miami Hurricanes for the top spot.

Quick Hits

• Per Jeff Rabjohns of Scout.com, 2018 four-star point guard Robert Phinisee will visit the new looked Ohio State program on Monday. Recently offered by Chris Holtmann and company, Phinisee, a Lafayette, Ind. native, is also being pursued by Indiana, Purdue, and Virginia among others.
• While one 2018 guard is set to visit OSU, another one listed the Buckeyes among their current leaders. Releasing his top six last night, Ohio State, Butler, Xavier, Nebraska, Purdue and Minnesota find themselves still in the mix for four-star shooting guard Eric Hunter Jr.
• The Buckeyes are looking to add a tight end to their 2018 class. From the looks of it, one of their targets won’t be calling Columbus his future home. Committing to LSU on Sunday, three-star prospect Zach Sheffer, who visited OSU during the spring from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, will take his talents to Baton Rouge and play for the Tigers.