Alabama '21 OH DB - Devonta Smith (Alabama Verbal)

Rivals.com
24/7Sports

CORNERBACK
5'11''|170 LBS
CLASS OF 2021

 

Cincinnati La Salle CB Devonta Smith is closing in on 30 offers and he landed 2 big ones this week from #Alabama and #Oregon. One of Ohio's top 2021 prospects. https://t.co/u09lJYIwNS @Prince_Tay_ @PatQBtrainer

— Bill Greene (@BillBankGreene) February 20, 2020

 

Wait for Buckeyes offer continues for Devonta Smith
Lettermen Row has talked about Cincinnati La Salle defensive back Devonta Smith recently, and the communication between the 3-star cornerback and Kerry Coombs has continued.

“I try to text him every other day,” Smith said. “So we are talking very frequently, but I don’t want to bug him knowing how busy coaches are.”

Certainly Coombs, a Cincinnati legend, isn’t bothered by Smith. The two sides are building a good relationship, and that bond is one of the reasons why the 5-foot-11, 175-pound cornerback is optimistic that an Ohio State offer could be coming in his future.

“I feel like I’m close to getting the offer,” Smith said. “But if not, I’m just going to continue to work and lead my team to another state championship.”

Smith’s approach is one of patience, but he admits it’s a challenge waiting for “dream” offer from the Buckeyes while picking up scholarships from big-time programs like Oregon, Notre Dame, Penn State and others.

“It’s very hard being a kid from the state of the school and feel like I’m doing everything right,” Smith said. “I’m putting the work in, staying humble, keeping my grades top tier. It’s hard for sure. But I just know if it’s meant to be, it’ll happen. So, I try not to dwell on it.”

The next step for Smith and Ohio State is a March visit to campus.

“I’m coming to visit in March,” he said. “March 28 is the specific date I’m thinking.”

 

DEVONTA SMITH
We start off by detailing the player closest to earning himself an Ohio State offer, and that's the 5-foot-11, 170-pound cornerback from Cincinnati La Salle whose defense proved instrumental in the program winning a Division-II state championship.

The three-star cornerback is coming off a big week in his recruitment, as he landed offers from Oregon and Alabama, each of which he had been dying to get an offer from.

"It was very impactful because it was a dream school of mine," Smith told Eleven Warriors of his offer from Alabama. "I actually talked to Nick Saban, which was very mind-blowing and something I’m grateful for."

It's possible that offers from both of those programs could end up opening more doors in Smith's recruitment, as he currently sits near 30 offers. That includes from Kentucky, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State and Tennessee.

"I’m sure it will lead to bigger offers, but if not it’s OK," Smith said. "I’m just going to keep my head down and work harder."

Of course, one of the most noticeable offers Smith does not have is from Ohio State, as the Buckeyes are continuing to evaluate 2021 defensive backs across the country in one of their biggest positions of need in this next cycle. Smith is being patient with the Buckeyes, hoping to get that coveted offer.

"To be honest, my relationship with the Ohio State coaches are not as strong as I would like it to be. We text every other week," Smith said.

This is where the inclusion of Kerry Coombs comes into play, as the Buckeyes' defensive coordinator/secondary coach has been using his Cincinnati roots to build a relationship with Smith.

"I think me and Coach Coombs' relationship is pretty unique given the fact we come from the same hometown and really lived in the same neighborhood," Smith said. "My impression on Coach Coombs is he’s one of the greats. That’s all I can say. And it’s a humbling experience to be able to even have a conversation with him."

Next up for Smith is getting back to Columbus for a visit, as he plans on visiting sometime this spring, and he will also "hopefully" get to Oregon and Alabama for visits this spring as well. It's very possible his next visit to Ohio State is when he will earn that offer from Coombs and the Buckeyes. If that offer never comes, Smith has plenty of other schools gunning for him, and his plan is to continue focusing on the ones he does have.

"Coach Coombs has told me what it would take to earn the offer, and honestly I feel like I have (earned an offer) because I work day in and day out," Smith said. "But if he and the Ohio State staff don't feel like I did, all I’m gonna do is continue to work. That’s all I’m gonna do. That’s all I can do."

Smith's teammate, Jaylen Johnson, committed to the Buckeyes in January.

 

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After getting Buckeyes offer, is Devonta Smith commitment coming soon? https://t.co/hHKPl9n0IV

— Lettermen Row (@LettermenRow) March 13, 2020

 

#OhioState has landed its 2nd CB commit in as many days https://t.co/Xaq1hT5bZN

— Josh Helmholdt (@JoshHelmholdt) March 16, 2020

 

Devonta Smith: Three-star defensive back commits to Ohio State https://t.co/8Ggq5DHQLu

— Lettermen Row (@LettermenRow) March 16, 2020

 

BOOM! #Buckeyes land a committent from 3-star cornerback @Prince_Tay_ (FREE)https://t.co/Vw7aE6ZpEs pic.twitter.com/wMsfYBFC6S

— Bucknuts (@Bucknuts247) March 16, 2020

 

Comparison I’ve been given for Devonta Smith is Gareon Conley, he says his favorite player was Denzel Ward. Good combination of guys to pay attention to.

— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) March 16, 2020

 

Ohio State earns cornerback commitments on back-to-back days as Devonta Smith (@Prince_Tay_ ) joins the 2021 class
https://t.co/kGk1r205z0

— Stephen Means (@Stephen_Means) March 16, 2020

 

Scouting Report: Three-star cornerback Devonta Smith, Ohio State's newest commit for the 2021 classhttps://t.co/EBa2Tm4iRP

— Buckeye Sports Bulletin (@Buckeye_Sports) March 16, 2020

 

Cincinnati's Devonta Smith had long felt spurned by Ohio State. But that soon turned, as he earned a Buckeyes offer in an emotional moment and committed soon after. https://t.co/MP2Flsu22q

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) March 18, 2020

 

Devonta Smith may be the lowest-rated player in Ohio State's top-rated recruiting class, but his versatility, ball skills and physicality translate well to the next level. https://t.co/RZVwy9fmTO

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 2, 2020

 

Check out Junior Year Highlights!! by Devonta Smith on @hudl https://t.co/LoGCiKaGDS #hudl

— OSUBasketballJunkie (@ScarletBuckeye2) May 23, 2020

 

Our big-time prospect @MickDWalker was in Cincinnati earlier this week & interviewed a pair of big-timers from the Queen City in #Buckeyes commits Jaylen Johnson @JaylenJohnson21 & Devonta Smith @Prince_Tay_ as they get back out on the field this month.https://t.co/HeXqs6zHOk

— BuckeyeScoop (@BuckeyeScoop) June 4, 2020

 

To see the entire 5-minute piece, click here: https://t.co/T76dKtqGNI

— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) June 6, 2020

 

Smith is the #30 rated defensive back, #400 player and 3 star recruit...........

The updated @247Sports Top247 has been released and the #Buckeyes are currently poised to land half - five of the Top 10 prospects in the country. https://t.co/hX0g6hcePp

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) June 17, 2020

 

Hearing this is a mutual decision by both Smith and Ohio State..........

New #CrystalBall predictions for Alabama coming in for Ohio State commit Devonta Smith. @247Sports analysts' predictions for 2021 class currently hitting with 95.2% accuracy. CB predictions feed: https://t.co/tsjBc1wA9q pic.twitter.com/rSYNVxD56o

— 247SportsCrystalBall (@247CrystalBall) June 25, 2020