Buckeyes visit legacy defensive line commit Will Smith Jr
COLUMBUS — Ohio State continues its in-home visits as the December contact period is in full force.
Head coach Ryan Day and defensive line coach Larry Johnson visited with in-state defensive line commit Will Smith Jr. in recent days.
Smith, the son of the late Will Smith who starred for the Buckeyes and was a key member of the 2002 national championship team, was the first defensive lineman who committed to the 2023 class.
He is the No. 27 rated defensive lineman and the No. 211 overall prospect as a four-star talent for Dublin (Ohio) Coffman.
Smith committed to Ohio State on Jan. 23 of this year, just nine days after he announced his offer. He led Dublin Coffman to a 7-3 regular season and a playoff berth into the Division I Region 2 bracket.
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The in-state talent is part of a small, but strong, defensive line class. Kayden McDonald and Jason Moore round out the defensive line board with reinforcements expected soon.
Smith is an expected early enrollee and will be available for winter workouts and spring practices.
He’s a talented and perhaps an underrated talent that once Johnson develops him, he’ll be another wrecker for the Buckeyes.
Will Smith Jr. Scouting Report
Twitchy interior defender who wins with burst off the line of scrimmage and an incredibly advanced understanding of leverage and hand usage. Fantastic bend and flexibility for his size, stellar athlete. Measures in over 6-foot-3, 250-plus pounds with a stout build that can’t add much more mass. Threw a strong 51-foot-1 in the shot put during his junior track and field campaign. Lacks ideal arm length to play on the edge but also lacks the frame to add substantial weight so he will be limited to a 3-technique. One of the highest floors in the country who will walk into an immediate role as a situational interior pass rusher. Ceiling is limited due to length but the athleticism and raw power could potential supersede those deficiencies.