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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Josh Keatley

Ohio State football class of 2023 scouting report: Will Smith Jr.

The Ohio State football recruiting class of 2023 is complete and despite some murmurs of negativity in the crowd, this class is fantastic from top to bottom. One of the studs of this class is a four-star legacy recruit defensive lineman from their backyard in Will Smith from Dublin Coffman in Dublin, Ohio.

Smith is regarded as a top 245 recruit in the country and a top 35 defensive lineman in this class. Every Buckeye fan remembers the late, great Will Smith who dominated from 2000 until 2003 and everyone is rooting for the same success for his son.

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Name: Will Smith

High School: Dublin Coffman (Dublin, OH)

Height: 6-feet, 3-inches

Weight: 260 pounds

4-Star Defensive Lineman

Strengths

Breaking It All Down

Will Smith Jr. is a versatile athlete who saw significant time both as a defensive end and defensive tackle in high school. He has the ability to fit either role, but his body and frame indicate a smoother transition to the interior of the defensive line.

Smith has a great frame and should add at least 15 more pounds with ease and his high motor and effort may allow him to see the field sooner than most of his peers. Smith plays with high football I.Q. and is rarely out of position. In my opinion, he is highly underrated likely due to the lack of drama with his recruitment and at a position that lacks the media flash.

Weaknesses

Breaking It All Down

Will Smith Jr. is a bit of a jack of all trades, but a master of none as far as his physical traits go. He has a great frame but it is hard to envision him growing into a behemoth of a defensive tackle because he lacks the length of your typical dominant defensive end. Smith also lacks the athleticism of some of the top-tier prospects.

Comparison: Tyreke Smith

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Breaking It All Down

Tyreke Smith and Will Smith Jr. play two different positions, but their career arcs have the potential to be similar. Tyreke Smith was a solid starter for Ohio State and even earned All-Big Ten honors before moving on to the NFL. Tyreke Smith shined with his hand usage and ability to put effective pass-rush moves together rather than his pure physical ability. I can see Will Smith Jr. winning more due to his technical ability and hand usage than pure power or speed.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Josh Keatley on Twitter.

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