Shock Move: Offers and Commitments Continue as Zack Smart Signs to Ohio State
In a recruiting season packed with headline-grabbing commitments and jaw-dropping offers, one name continues to rise through the ranks—Zack Smart. On Friday, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound hybrid linebacker out of Long Beach, California, made his long-anticipated commitment, sending shockwaves through the college football landscape by signing with Ohio State University.
Smart’s decision comes after a whirlwind recruitment that included offers from nearly every Power Five school, including Alabama, USC, Michigan, and Georgia. But after multiple visits to Columbus and long talks with head coach Ryan Day and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, Smart made it official: he’s a Buckeye.
“I felt at home the moment I stepped on campus,” Smart said in his commitment interview. “The coaching staff didn’t just want me—they showed me how I fit into their future. Ohio State is where I can grow as a player and as a man.”
The Next Defensive Star?
Regarded as one of the most versatile defensive prospects in the 2025 class, Smart brings a rare blend of size, speed, and football IQ. His film flashes everything from edge rush dominance to sideline-to-sideline pursuit, and he’s equally comfortable dropping into coverage. 247Sports ranks him as a top-50 national player and the No. 3 linebacker in the country.
“He’s a positionless weapon on defense,” one scout noted. “You don’t coach instincts like that. He’s a disruptor—pure and simple.”
Ohio State Reloads
With Smart’s commitment, Ohio State’s 2025 recruiting class vaults into the national top three, continuing the program’s momentum on the trail. The Buckeyes have made it clear that the standard in Columbus isn’t just being maintained—it’s being elevated.
Smart joins a class loaded with blue-chip talent on both sides of the ball, reinforcing the Buckeyes’ reputation as not only a Big Ten powerhouse but a perennial national title contender.
What This Means for the Big Ten
Smart’s signing doesn’t just bolster Ohio State’s future—it sends a message. The Buckeyes are reasserting their dominance in talent acquisition, particularly on the defensive side, where they’ve often been overshadowed in recent years by SEC giants.
As the Big Ten braces for expansion and the College Football Playoff prepares to grow, programs like Ohio State know they must stack elite talent now. Zack Smart’s decision might just be the pivotal move that shapes the Buckeyes’ defensive identity for years to come.
From a heavily pursued prospect to a foundational piece of a national contender, Zack Smart’s journey is just beginning—but the Buckeyes faithful already believe he’s the next great one.
