DL Darrion Smith commits to Tennessee over Ohio State: 'It just feels like family down there'

Baltimore St. Frances Academy defensive lineman Darrion Smith ended up with two dozen offers. The 6-foot-2, 260-pound versatile defensive lineman narrowed his list down to Ohio State and Tennessee before choosing the Vols.

He was back in Knoxville over the weekend and that is when he made his final decision.

“I was going back and forth between Ohio State and Tennessee until this last visit,” Smith told On3. “I knew I liked Tennessee a lot going into the visit with my mom, but the visit just confirmed everything for me. On the visit, that is when I knew that I wanted to go to Tennessee.”

Smith first visited Knoxville a little over a year ago. After this past weekend, he has visited Tennessee five times and he loves the city, the people and the program.

“Tennessee is a great place to be. It has what I am looking for. Coach Josh Heupel is a great coach that his players love. Coach Robert Ayers and coach Rodney Garner are guys I trust. The program is going up and it just feels like a family down there.

“Earlier this year, Tennessee started recruiting me hard. They stayed consistent and they made it feel like family. That made it an easy decision for me.”

Smith is Tennessee’s 21st commitment for the 2025 cycle.

The staff at Tennessee played a big factor in Smith’s decision

Heupel, Garner and Ayers all established relationships with Smith. Each played a role in his decision.

“Coach G is one of the best to ever do it when it comes to defensive linemen,” Smith said. “I know I can learn a lot from him. He has put a lot of guys in the NFL, and it is not only his coaching that I like a lot, but I like him as a person too. He is big on family and that played into my decision. Coach G is a great guy.”

Ayers helps Garner on the defense line, he has played in the NFL, and the former Vol connected with Smith.

“We have a great relationship. Coach Ayers played in the league, he knows what it takes to get there and I have a lot of trust in him.”

Huepel was very much involved in Smith’s recruitment too. Smith likes the head coach’s personality and what he is doing with the program.

“Coach Heupel is a true player’s coach and Tennessee has been improving every year since he took over as the head coach. He is fun to be around, he is easy to talk to and his players want to play for him. Coach Heupel is an all-around good person, and that factors into the players wanting to go there and play for him.

“In the next few years, he is going to bring a national championship to Knoxville. The program is getting better and better.”