Arthur Smith has now been the offensive coordinator at Ohio State for exactly 11 days. Rumors around the program suggest that Smith has reignited a major recruiting opportunity involving one of the country’s top dual-sport athletes, especially after Ohio State’s loss of its star running back prospect, Kemon Spell, to the Georgia Bulldogs.

One of his biggest targets right now is Sean Currie, a massive 6-foot-7 tight end currently committed to Virginia. Ohio State tight ends coach Keenan Bailey extended an offer to Currie on January 12 and has been closely tracking him for quite some time.

When Currie committed to the Cavaliers back in September 2025 to play both football and lacrosse, it felt like the Buckeyes had lost the battle. But with Arthur Smith now in Columbus, momentum appears to be shifting in Ohio State’s favor.

“I had the opportunity to have a FaceTime with [new Ohio State offensive coordinator] Arthur Smith,” Currie said on the Letterman show. “He said I was his first FaceTime call to a recruit. That meant a lot to me. Coach Smith just got the job, so for me to be his first call says a lot about how serious they are about building a relationship. Having him and Coach Bailey on there together was really cool.”

Currie is a bit of a rare find because he’s an elite dual-sport athlete. While some services still list him as a three-star football recruit, his stock has exploded recently as major programs recognize his NFL-caliber frame and athleticism. Rivals ranks him among the top 25 tight ends in the 2027 class. It’s only a matter of time before he climbs the tight end rankings.

As good as he is at tight end, he’s even more valued in the world of lacrosse. He’s ranked as the No. 23 defender in the nation by Prep Lacrosse. Flipping him from his Virginia commitment will be a challenge, but fortunately, the Buckeyes are making the case.

“Building relationships with coaches is big for me. I’ve been talking with Coach Bailey since September and really like how they develop their tight ends,” Currie told Letterman. “I want to get out there, spend time around the team and coaches, and make sure it’s the right fit both on and off the field.”

The Buckeyes have a competitive lacrosse team, which is a key selling point. Landing Currie would be a major win for Arthur Smith. As a junior, Currie gained 474 yards and 8 touchdowns, and played on defense. Ohio State will host Currie on March 10, 2026, when he visits campus for spring practice. He’s also close with TE coach Keenan Bailey, which could help.

However, the competition is stiff, as Currie also has a visit planned for Penn State on April 11. Then he’ll head back to Virginia for an official visit in June. The Buckeyes’ coaching staff is pulling out all the stops to make sure his trip to Columbus next month makes him feel right at home, especially after failing with Kemon Spell.

Ohio State’s toughest recruiting RB loss of the season

It’s a bummer for Ryan Day and Co. as five-star RB Kemon Spell committed to Georgia on February 2, taking him off their board. Losing him hurts, as he is widely considered the top running back in the 2027 class. The Pennsylvania playmaker posted over 1,700 yards and 28 touchdowns last year in just nine games.

Ohio State was right there in the mix until the very end. But a recent visit to Athens seemed to seal the deal for Georgia. This is especially frustrating for Big Ten fans because Spell originally committed to Penn State. But he reopened his recruitment after they made some coaching changes.

Even though they did miss out on Spell, the Buckeyes aren’t exactly in panic mode. They’ve already shifted their focus to David Gabriel Georges, another five-star running back from Tennessee who is now the top priority on their board for 2027.

Plus, the team is still riding high with guys like Bo Jackson expected to rush for at least 1,000 yards and big things in the backfield under Smith’s run-heavy offense. Recruiting is always a next-man-up business, and Ohio State is already moving on to the next big target.

However, the coaching staff will probably keep a tiny window open just in case he changes his mind before he actually signs his National Letter of Intent in December. For now, it looks like he’s all-in on the Bulldogs.