On May 17, Ohio State landed a 4-star player with NFL bloodlines. Another St. Thomas Aquinas defender is heading north making it a huge recruiting win for Ryan Day and co. Joey Bosa came through there and later became the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. This time, it’s 4-star EDGE Wyatt Smith.

Ohio State was far from the only school who pursued Wyatt Smith with interest. National champion Indiana and his father’s alma mater Missouri both pursued the Florida native relentlessly. But he ultimately committed to the Buckeyes, giving Ryan Day and DL coach Larry Johnson yet another solid defensive addition in the 2027 class.

“Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful,” Smith wrote. 

His quote fits the family because Wyatt Smith is more than just another highly rated recruit with impressive stats. He’s the son of former Cincinnati Bengals and San Francisco 49ers DE Justin Smith. This means Ohio State just landed a kid who grew up around NFL standards getting coached by a former All-Pro. 


Justin Smith was dominant during his 14-year NFL career with 87 sacks and nearly 900 tackles. The Bengals drafted him fourth overall out of Missouri in 2001 where he late earned five Pro Bowls from 2009-13, and four All-Pro honors. Now his son is heading to Columbus.

Ohio State beating Missouri for Wyatt Smith’s commitment isn’t a small thing. The Tigers had connections as Justin Smith became a college football star there before becoming a top-5 NFL pick. But Larry Johnson still won the battle and that tells you how much they believe in the Buckeyes’ development pipeline.

At 6’6, 250-pounds, Wyatt Smith already looks physically bigger from most high school edge players. But he also brings speed along with size. At Rivals Camp Miami in February, he put together one of the most impressive performances. 

Per On3 Rivals scouting report, he’s an “athletic, productive frontline defender who is quickly developing into one of the top pass rushes in the 2027 cycle… Tests as a top athlete, posting a scintillating 4.64-second 40-yard dash, among the best on the camp circuit for a prospect his size in the 2027 cycle.”

Wyatt Smith was a phenom during his junior season at St. Thomas Aquinas. Per 247Sports, he recorded 155 tackles, 24 TFLs, and 13 sacks. He did that and pushed his school to a Class 5A state championship and earned MaxPreps All-American honors. With his commitment, Ohio State now boasts a loaded 2027 recruiting class.

Ohio State already has eight 4-stars for 2027

Wyatt Smith becomes Ohio State’s 12th overall commitment and the eighth 4-star pledge in the cycle. The class is already led by elite names like 5-star DE DJ Jacobs from Blessed Trinity Catholic in Georgia and 5-star WR Jamier Brown from Wayne High School in Ohio. Brown even told Eleven Warriors he’s shut down his recruitment and plans to sign with OSU in December. 

In addition to the two 5-stars, Ohio State also brought in 4-stars in OT Kellen Wymer, S Eli Johnson, LB Quinton Cypher, QB Brady Edmunds, OT Brody McNeel, OT Jimmy Kalis, and S Angelo Smith (Jeremiah Smith’s brother), per On3 Rivals. Now, this Wyatt Smith commitment isn’t just about one player. It’s about the Buckeyes continuing to dominate the positions that decide championships. 

DEs still change everything in college football. They erase bad coverages and flip playoff games in two plays. Ohio State just added another one who already understands what elite football looks like before even stepping onto campus.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR