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Defensive lineman Nigel Smith commits to Sooners

Bob Przybyloby: Bob Przybylo09/09/23BPrzybylo
Nigel Smith by Sam Spiegelman
OU defensive line commitment Nigel Smith II (Sam Spiegelman/On3)

Another week, and another massive defensive lineman recruiting battle for the Sooners. For the second time in a month, it’s OU on top.

The Sooners are able to land another huge defensive lineman commitment as Melissa (Texas) High’s Nigel Smith announced his commitment to OU just minutes prior to his game Friday evening.

Smith had offers from a who’s who across the country, but this felt like a future SEC recruiting battle between OU and Texas A&M.

It’s not that big of an exaggeration to say as soon as Brent Venables was hired as head coach, he knew he wanted Smith. OU offered Smith in January 2022, and the Sooners have gone to work ever since in building that relationship.

Multiple trips to Norman, and Venables with defensive line coaches Miguel Chavis and Todd Bates have been in overdrive trying to get Smith to OU.

Smith’s head coach tells you why.

“You can’t ask for a better kid as a player. His motor is unbelievable,” Melissa head coach Matt Nally told On3. “He’s just that prototypical coach’s kid – works his butt off, gets up here before anybody else is up here, gets in a workout, goes through school and during the athletic period, works out again and then comes back and lifts after school. So, you just can’t ask for a better kid in the situation that he is in. The work ethic that he has is just uncanny.”

It has been a chaotic month for defensive line recruiting. The Sooners haven’t landed them all. But it is hard to be disappointed.

OU is two weeks removed from earning the pledge of five-star defensive lineman David Stone. Smith adds another top-100 prospect to the 2024 class.

A four-star prospect across the board, Smith is No. 100 overall by the industry composite. There were times when Ohio State looked like an option. Then there was Penn State. But in the end, it was the Sooners and Aggies.

Chalk one up for Venables and company.

It’ll be interesting to see where Smith ends up on the defensive line. Is he a defensive end? Or has he grown his way into a defensive tackle spot? Obviously, the OU coaches will figure that one out.

What is known, though, is the staff’s ability to recognize and evaluate elite defensive talent. And here lately? They’re doing a much better job of closing the show. Stone, Smith, and they’re not done yet.

*Editor’s note: SoonerScoop’s Josh McCuistion is on-site for Smith’s commitment. Much more reaction coming from OU getting its guy.

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