4-star EDGE Jacob Smith, DL Jerod Smith break down Nebraska interest

The last week has been a busy one for Cheshire (Conn.) Cheshire Academy four-star twin brothers Jacob Smith and Jerod Smith. On Tuesday the brothers visited Georgia before heading to Alabama on Wednesday and capping the trip with an overnight stay at Nebraska.

While the trips to Alabama and Georgia wasn’t their first time on either campus, the visit to Lincoln was a first for the brothers.

In January Jacob and Jerod announced their top schools and while they yet to visit Nebraska at that time, they both included the Cornhuskers in that list. Ultimately it came down to the interest the Cornhuskers new coaching staff was already showing in them.

“As soon as they got the new staff they reached out immediately,” Jerod said on an edition of Nebraska Football Recruit Spotlight with Steven Sipple and Sean Callahan. “They were real aggressive with us so I said I’d give them a shot. We’ve our relationship even more since they re-offered.

“They’re top 10 but you never know, they could be top 5.”

Jacob is the No. 214 overall prospect and No. 18 EDGE in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 3 player in Connecticut.

Jerod is the No. 264 overall prospect, the No. 26 defensive lineman and the No. 4 player in Connecticut for the 2024 cycle.

Following the visit to Nebraska, the brothers will return home before hitting the road again next week for visits to Notre Dame and Michigan. They said that they’d like to also visit Alabama and Kentucky before sitting down and figuring out where they’ll take their official visits.

Connection with DL coach Terrance Knighton key to the brothers

One of the biggest connections the Smith’s have with the Nebraska’s coaching staff is with Cornhuskers new defensive line coach Terrance Knighton.

Following a nine-year playing career in the NFL, Knighton began his coaching career at Wagner in 2019 before joining Matt Rhule’s Carolina staff in 2021.

“The NFL experience shows what he’s doing and he knows what to teach you to get you to the next level,” Jacob said.

Like the twins, Knighton also played his high school days in Connecticut having grown up in Windsor.

“He has experience coaching in the league and in college so he’s been everywhere,” Jerod said. He’s also from Windsor Connect where we played football so that connection is there and he knows one our coaches at school too. He has the experience, the knowledge and knows a lot of people so it’s nothing but great things from him.”

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