The Ohio State Buckeyes scored many victories on Sunday night in landing 3-star Hollywood, Florida, product Angelo Smith. While Jeremiah Smith, Angelo's older brother, probably won't get to play with the safety, since the consensus best player in college football will almost certainly be off to the NFL by then, he will be coming to Columbus, continuing a strong pipeline for Ohio State:
The Chaminade-Madonna Lions-to-OSU pipeline.
"This is another win for the Buckeyes and gives them a chance not only to keep a good connection with the Smith family, but also at Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, which has produced current Ohio State players Jeremiah Smith and Kenyatta Jackson Jr.," The Athletic's Cameron Teague Robinson wrote.
"It’s unlikely he’ll play with his brother at Ohio State. Smith will be eligible for the NFL Draft after next season and is already projected as the No. 1 player in the class. It would be a surprise if Smith skipped the NFL Draft to come back to Ohio State, but that would be the only way he played with his brother."
Co-Defensive Coordinator and Cornerbacks Coach Tim Walton and Passing Game Coordinator and Safeties Coach Matt Guerrieri get the credit for the addition here, setting up Matt Patricia with another talent from one of South Florida's best talent factories. Angelo isn't projected to be the difference-maker his older brother was.
Teague Robinson cast doubt on whether or not Angelo would have a ready-made role for him when he arrives.
"While Jeremiah Smith came to Ohio State as a day-one starter, his younger brother isn’t the type of physical unicorn than he is. Angelo Smith, ranked as the No. 38 safety in the class, is 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds and projects as a defensive back at Ohio State, as opposed to a receiver, like his older brother," Teague Robinson wrote.
With a built-in chip on his shoulder from being written off, not too dissimilar to Shilo Sanders, who was with Shedeur Sanders, though Shilo was the older one in that scenario, Angelo will arrive at Ohio State ready to prove himself off the bat.