Major USC LB target Tyanthony Smith announces top five schools ahead of OV
Jasper (Texas) four-star linebacker Tyanthony Smith revealed his top five schools Thursday evening. They are USC, Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas A&M.
USC being in his top group was completely expected as Smith is just hours away from beginning his official visit in Los Angeles.
The other members of the group are to be expected. Oklahoma (June 19) and Texas (June 21) are also set for official visits. He has already taken an official visit to Texas A&M earlier this month.
Smith is the No. 346 overall prospect and No. 35 linebacker 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. 60 player in Texas.
On3 rates Smith higher than other recruiting services, according to the Industry Comparison. Per the 2024 On300, he is the No. 288 overall prospect, No. 25 linebacker and No. 55 player in Texas.
Smith discusses his top five schools
USC: “With Lincoln Riley there, I trust what they got going on at USC,” Smith told WeAreSC. “They’ve built the offense and now their plan is to build the defense. Getting an opportunity to talk to Coach Riley was one of the biggest highlights of the visit. That and spending time with Coach (Brian) Odom.”
Alabama: “It just boasted them up even more,” Smith told Joseph Hastings of BamaOnLine on March 7. “They were already ranked highly. I know that they’re the standard. You have to be tough… it’s a challenge you want to obtain. If I was not to start or not go to the NFL, can I lean on them to help me get a good scholarship to pursue life after football? Today, I saw that that could happen.”
Oklahoma: “The player meeting had three different coaches talking about their defense, their run schemes, how they disguise things, how basically they’d use me and my versatility,” Smith told On3’s Sam Spiegelman on Feb. 10. “Coach (Brent) Venables is a defensive-minded guy and I belong with a good defensive-minded coach. It’s good to learn from those types of guys. In the meetings breaking it down, I’d blitz on one play and drop in coverage the next. It’s constant, too.”
Texas: “Texas has got a really nice crew,” Smith told Hamilton on April 24. “It wouldn’t be bad playing for Texas with your last name on the back of that burnt orange jersey. They were one of my favorite teams growing up. I’ve got mad love for Texas. I know they have a great linebacker, and I know I could be developed real well learning from some of the great linebackers at Texas.”
Texas A&M: “They’ve got a real good tradition on defense,” Smith told On3 on Feb. 19. “I see myself playing there. It’s two hours down the street and I just feel like they got a good tradition and I feel like Jimbo Fisher’s really doing good stuff.”
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