Oklahoma Sooners score commitment from On3 Industry Ranking top-100 DL Nigel Smith II
After years of being one of the most highly sought-after defensive linemen in the 2024 class, Nigel Smith II‘s decision is in.
Smith, the No. 15-ranked DL in the country out of Melissa (Texas) High School in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, committed to the Oklahoma Sooners on Friday night as his team unveiled its brand-new home stadium in North Texas.
The On3 Industry Ranking top-100 DL also represents the heartbeat of the Melissa Cardinals football program. His commitment to Brent Venables, Todd Bates and Miguel Chavis is a testament to the Sooners giving Smith priority treatment since their arrival in Norman.
“I think Coach V did a great job putting together that coaching staff,” Smith told On3. “Those guys fit together well — like a puzzle piece — with how their different energies mix. Not all coaches are hype; some are calmer and wiser, and it’s a good mix with Chavis and Bates. Chavis puts on cleats at practice and is a high, high, high energy guy and (is) always fun. Bates always has all the right things to say. He is very wise and puts together poems for the team and sends me a lot of them.”
“At Clemson, they were spitting out guys to the league. They recruited and developed them, and they’ve proven they can do that time and time again,” he added. “I think I’d fit in well with their personalities.”
Smith picks the Sooners after years of being a national recruit
The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Smith has been in the national spotlight since he was a freshman at Melissa.
Along with the Sooners, programs like Notre Dame and Ohio State were longtime staples in Smith’s recruitment over the years. When Brian Kelly relocated from South Bend to SEC territory, LSU got into the mix. So did Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Penn State and Oregon.
Lincoln Riley and Alex Grinch started recruiting Smith for the Sooners before Venables and his DL-oriented coaching staff took over. Oklahoma has always carved out a massive space in this recruitment.
“It’s been a really great push,” Smith said of Oklahoma. “Coach Venables is a defensive guy and Coach Chavis and Coach Bates are from Clemson, where they were spitting out guys to the league. They’re recruiting me hard and they’re a great school on the come-up.”
“I always have a great time being down talking to some of the players and talking to Coach V, Coach Chavis, Coach Bates. They’re fun guys, high-energy guys to talk to and keep up with. The Oklahoma fan base is crazy, the games are loud, always packed, and awesome to be at.”
Smith has been to Norman more than any other campus. He continued to make his way back after taking a closer look at several blue-blood programs nationwide.
“I wanted to take the time to pay attention to the teams that build a relationship with me, that were talking to me on a daily basis — and not just one coach; it’ll be the head coach, the position coach, the person who recruits my area,” he noted. “Oklahoma was a team that did a great job building that relationship with me and who I know will develop me the best way possible.”
Smith checks in as the No. 100 overall player in the nation, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s tabbed as the No. 18-rated recruit from the Lone Star State.
Nigel Smith II Scouting Summary
On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power had this to say about the newly minted Oklahoma commitment:
“Flexible, technically savvy defensive lineman who looks to be a mismatch as an interior pass rusher. Measured a shade over 6-foot-4, 260 pounds prior to his senior season. Has a frame to keep adding more weight. Does not have high end length for the position. Lines up as a big defensive end and slides inside to exploit mismatches. A loose, flexible athlete who plays with outstanding bend. Gets low off the snap. Shows active, quick hands.
… Skill set as a pass rusher is amplified when he faces interior offensive linemen. Does a nice job disengaging as a run defender. Productive as a junior tallying 11 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. Solid athlete, but does not appear to be overly twitchy. Comes from athletic stock, as his father played basketball at SMU. Could play as a 4i or eventually grow into a defensive tackle.”