Last week, Jim Knowles was on the recruiting trail to check in on one of the Buckeyes’ top remaining defensive end targets in the 2024 class.
In an exclusive interview with Eleven Warriors, four-star Texas defensive end Nigel Smith said he was thrilled Ohio State's defensive coordinator stopped in to check on his team’s spring practice and was eager to catch up with him after the session ended.
“It was pretty fun,” Smith said of meeting with Knowles. “He stopped by and watched my whole practice, and I got to talk to him for a little bit. He told me, ‘Man, they’ve got you playing that head up four going side-to-side when Larry Johnson and I get our hands on you we’re going to develop you into a premier defensive end and pass rusher.’”
Smith says he speaks with Ohio State a couple of times a week, with coaches ranging from Johnson to Knowles to Ryan Day. Knowles stopped in to see Smith last week, while Johnson is expected to visit the defensive end next week in Texas.
While Smith didn’t visit Columbus this spring, he’s been to campus numerous times over the past few seasons and is still high on the Buckeyes. Smith said he expects to publicly announce his official visit next week but confirmed Ohio State will be one of his five visits.
“I love their development in the past and what they’re doing with the guys they have now,” Smith said of Ohio State. “They’ve been putting people in the league for years. Coach LJ has proven he can develop guys. Their defense with coach Knowles is very attack, attack, attack, which I love for the defensive ends. I think I’d fit in very well, and they’ve shown me film of how I play and how their guys play. I fit in well to their defense and have built really good relationships with coach Day, coach Johnson and coach Knowles.”
Currently, Ohio State has 13 commitments in the 2024 class, 11 of which are on the offensive side of the ball. One of the two defensive commitments the Buckeyes have, four-star Texas linebacker Payton Pierce, has been very public about his desire for Smith to join him in Columbus.
“It feels great. We’ve built a pretty good relationship with him being so close by,” Smith said of Pierce openly recruiting him to Ohio State. “His brother is the wrestling coach here. I see him every day. I see Payton a good amount on visits, he’s texting me all the time and we talk all the time about Ohio State.”
Pierce resides in Lucas, Texas, about 20 minutes away from Smith’s residence in Melissa, Texas. The two will face off against each other in the last game of each team’s regular season, a contest Smith is looking forward to.
“I think he’s a really good player,” Smith said. “Sadly, he was injured when our teams played last time, but he’s very athletic and I think he fits in well with Ohio State. He’s just an athlete, to be honest. He’s very strong and knows the game very well.”
D’antre Robinson picks up Ohio State offer
Ohio State has made another offer to a 2024 defensive tackle, as four-star Florida prospect D’antre Robinson picked one up on Thursday.
Blessed to receive an offer from Ohio State University #gobuckeyes @R2X_Rushmen1 @Rivals @247Sports @CraigHaubert @MohrRecruiting @BHoward_11 @ChadSimmons_ @RWrightRivals @JonesHSFootball @rivalskillop @mcnamararivals @blake_Alderman @bykeeganpope @swiltfong247 pic.twitter.com/bzf3K1mR8o
— Dantre Robinson (@FleezyT12) May 4, 2023
The 6-foot-4, 300-pound Robinson is considered the 310th-best prospect and the 33rd-ranked defensive lineman in the 2024 class per 247Sports’ composite rankings. Robinson has nearly 50 Division I offers, including Florida, Texas, Arizona State, Arkansas, Auburn, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa State, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas A&M and USC.
Last season, Robinson racked up 57 tackles (three for loss) with one sack.
Christopher Jackson earns offer from Buckeyes
Robinson wasn’t the only 2024 prospect the Buckeyes offered in the past 24 hours, as Georgia linebacker Christopher Jackson picked up an Ohio State offer Wednesday evening.
Blessed to receive an offer from Ohio State University!@OhioStateFB @TuckerFootball @ChadSimmons_ @RustyMansell_ @RivalsJohnson @Rivals @On3Recruits @adamgorney @JeremyO_Johnson pic.twitter.com/FUt8s5Rf3J
— Christopher (CJ) Jackson (@CJ_jackson21) May 3, 2023
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Jackson does not hold a 247Sports composite ranking, but holds 13 Division I offers. Schools that have offered include Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Michigan State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas A&M.
