Ryan Day’s 2027 class is already showing dominance, standing at number 1. As of now, the Buckeyes have received nine commits, out of which there are two five-stars. However, OSU is far from done. Just a week back, the Buckeyes entered the mix for 4-star edge rusher Myles Smith. Even though Smith hails from Michigan, he quickly locked in an unofficial visit date to Columbus.

Myles Smith is set to visit “The Shoe” on March 28. Before meeting Ryan Day and his staff, he will also make stops at Oklahoma on March 6, Nebraska on March 10, and Missouri on March 14. Landing the final visit of the month, compared to its SEC and Big 10 counterparts, could give the Buckeyes a significant edge. It will allow them to make the last impression compared to the programs that hosted Smith earlier in the month.

The Buckeyes extended an offer on February 27th. This “fresh offer” status, combined with a late-month visit, allows the staff to capitalize on his rising interest while other programs’ pitches may have already begun to fade.

His development will be really interesting under Matt Patricia, who we saw develop Caleb Downs into a versatile defensive chess piece. Just like that, this 6-foot-5 edge rusher can fit in multiple different schemes at the collegiate level. Last year, Smith racked up 85 tackles, 14 TFLs, 6.0 sacks, 4.0 forced fumbles, a pass breakup, and a fumble recovery.

With his help, his team, the Farmington Falcons, went 7-3 in the regular season, including a significant win over rival North Farmington 35-22. Smith was leading the defense, and under his watch, the Falcons allowed just 12.7 points per game. Smith ranks among the hardest workers in the state of Michigan, and he has also made his expectations clear.

“I try not to focus on it too much,” Smith said. “I keep my head down, keep working. People are gonna figure out who I am, and if they don’t, they don’t.”

The visit allows Ohio State to showcase its track record of developing elite edge rushers into first-round NFL talent. In the past couple of years, the Buckeyes staff developed three primary edge rushers into NFL talents. These include JT Tuimoloau, who was a three-time All-Big Ten first-team selection. Tuimoloau was drafted in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He was a dominant force for the Buckeyes, recording 12.5 sacks in the 2024 season alone.

Then comes Jack Sawyer, who was known as the “heart and soul” of the Buckeyes’ defensive front. Sawyer was selected in the fourth round at number 123 overall during the 2025 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He concluded his Ohio State career with 23 sacks and 28.5 tackles for loss. The third was Zach Harrison, who was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.

If this pitch is used when Smith comes to visit, it will leave a lasting impact on him. Now that the Buckeyes have secured a visit with him, where does their archrival, Smith’s in-state school, stand in his recruitment?

Why no interest from the Wolverines? 

Michigan State has already done its due diligence by locking in an official visit for Myles Smith on May 29th. Smith has been a priority for the Spartans in the 2027 recruiting class. So locking in a visit is a major triumph for them. By getting this official visit, it’s clear the interest between Michigan State and Smith is mutual. And sadly, this is where the Wolverines missed out.

Michigan made an early impression after Smith visited Ann Arbor for multiple games in the fall of 2025, including the Purdue game. That’s where he received his official offer. But in December, Michigan went through some massive changes when Sherrone Moore was fired. Though Kyle Whittingham quickly took charge, the unfamiliar coaching staff made Smith skeptical. On the other hand, there wasn’t much push from Michigan’s side either.

The Wolverines’ recruiting staff planned to visit his school in January, but they couldn’t make the trip.

“I need to learn about the new coaching staff, everybody who’s coming in and their previous history and what they’ve done,” Smith said.

If they connect with him more, Smith said he would “for sure consider” scheduling a visit this spring.