Penn State DL target Nigel Smith releases official visit schedule
Just a day after announcing his top eight schools, Penn State defensive line target Nigel Smith has announced his official visit schedule for June and beyond.
As Smith said during a previous interview with Blue White Illustrated last month, the Melissa, Texas, native plans to take advantage of the NCAA’s rule change allowing for unlimited official visits.
But with that change not beginning until the season starts, Smith will be limited to just five official visits between now and when the summer dead period begins on June 27. As BWI previously reported, Penn State’s official visit will take place the second week of the month, June 9-11. It’ll be the middle of five visits, one of which will take place next weekend when he travels north to see Rutgers, May 19-21.
The other three official visits are all scheduled for next month, beginning with Ohio State, June 2-4. He’ll also go to Oklahoma, June 16-18, and Texas A&M the following week, June 23-25.
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But as mentioned, Smith plans to keep his recruitment going into the season, setting up an official visit to Texas for Sept. 1-3. The Longhorns will host Rice that weekend. That leaves just Arkansas and Georgia as the two teams who made his top eight but don’t have an official visit currently set.
“I have built such a good relationship with this coaching staff,” Smith told On3 about why Penn State made his top schools. “They have made it clear I’m their guy, and I feel they can develop me to get to the NFL.”
According to the On3 Industry Rankings, Smith is currently ranked No. 88 nationally. He’s the 11th-ranked defensive tackle and No. 15 overall in Texas for the Class of 2024. On3 rates him a bit lower at No. 159 nationally. He’s a consensus four-star on all four major publications.
“Coach [James] Franklin made it very clear that they’re not going to let me go to Ohio State or Texas A&M or any of my other top schools,” Smith said following his visit in April. “He said that I’m their top defensive end and they’re not going to lose me to anyone else. He said they’re going to make it clear that I’m their top D-end. They don’t want me to have any thoughts about them not recruiting me the hardest they can possibly recruit me.”
