Seems like the battle for South Florida’s most recognizable football family is heating up. Angelo Smith, the standout safety from Chaminade Madonna, is now committed verbally to Ohio State’s 2027 class, but there are chances that the Hurricanes can flip that decision. Their secret weapon? Family. 

“Angelo Smith, the younger brother of Jeremiah Smith… I believe Miami has a chance to possibly land him if he continues to develop as a defensive back,” Miami insider Marcus Benjamin told the Rivals. “Because I’m hearing that there’s a chance that Jeremiah Smith might want to come back home, and if that happens, then they have a chance to get an Angelo Smith as well.”

Now, does this mean that Jeremiah Smith would up and leave Ohio for sure? Not really, his message of “Not going nowhere” said things loud and clear. That stance matters, especially considering Jeremiah was the crown jewel of Ohio State’s 2024 recruiting class and has already emerged as one of the most productive receivers in the country. But the truth is that this is not the same Miami anymore. Earlier in the season, the Hurricanes were seen as chokers who stumbled against teams like Louisville. But right now, they are the team that was one Carson Beck interception away from winning it all.

Another layer fueling the speculation is geography. The Smiths are Florida natives, products of Chaminade-Madonna, and the pull of home has never disappeared. Jeremiah openly acknowledged that reality during Cotton Bowl media week, admitting Miami “was really close” and that staying home gave him pause even after months committed to Ohio State. Getting Jeremiah now may remain a long shot, but Mario Cristobal’s more realistic play is positioning Miami as a viable landing spot for Angelo, without framing it as a contingency move.

Ohio State offered Angelo Smith a scholarship on June 17, 2025, after he impressed during a Buckeyes camp. The three-star safety from Chaminade-Madonna College Prep in Hollywood, Florida, chose OSU over Miami, Oklahoma State, and Georgia State. That decision came after years of familiarity with the Hurricanes, who first offered him back in May 2023 and never fully stepped away. Miami even hosted him in November 2025 for its matchup against NC State.

At 5’10” and roughly 170 pounds, Angelo isn’t built like a prototype safety. But his production tells a different story: 40 tackles, 11 pass breakups, and three interceptions as a sophomore, paired with a 91 speed score that jumps on tape. That combination of range and physicality fits Miami’s defensive tempo, and being a local product only strengthens the buy-in factor Cristobal values.

The momentum shift isn’t just theoretical. It showed up under the brightest lights. Miami’s 24-14 Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State was driven by defense, harassing Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin for five sacks. Keionte Scott’s 72-yard interception return for a touchdown flipped the game early and energized a roster that suddenly looked like it belonged on the same field as a $1.08-billion powerhouse. Jeremiah noticed.

“Most likely, yeah,” Jeremiah said if he would choose the Canes coming out of high school if they won a bowl game like this. “I probably end up going to Miami if things had been on the right track then and there, but I chose to stick with Ohio State.”

Ohio State’s 2027 recruiting class is sitting at No. 1 nationally according to On3 and No. 3 on 247Sports. But if Angelo Smith flips, it could nudge their numbers down a bit. They’d lose a commit and take a small hit to their overall recruiting score, which might drop them a spot or two, especially in a tight top-10 race. That said, with the rest of their high-ranked pledges, the Buckeyes would almost certainly still stay inside the top five.

Mario Cristobal trying to bring in an army

Mario Cristobal is making waves in recruiting. And St. Thomas Aquinas High School becomes his primary target. Fresh off a 13-3 season capped by a 27-21 National Championship loss to Indiana, the Hurricanes face roster upheaval. When the transfer portal window closed, the Hurricanes had lost 16 players, including linebacker Bobby Washington Jr., after minimal 2025 snaps. The Canes could add only six newcomers. That imbalance demands aggressive rebuilding, especially at quarterback. One name to keep an eye on is Darian Mensah.

But his legal proceedings are what are making everyone impatient. Mensah has signed a contract with his current team, the Duke Blue Devils, which has caused issues in his exit from the program. Duke is taking the matter to court and will do it’s best to enforce the contract. This situation mirrors the one faced by Demond Williams and the Washington Huskies. In that matter, Demond had to honor his contract and returned back to the team.

Meanwhile, Cristobal is staying busy and aggressive in his recruiting efforts. He jetted to Fort Lauderdale’s St. Thomas Aquinas on January 21. It’s a recruiting hotbed that produced NFL stars like Nick Bosa and Devin Hester. He connected directly with Top247 defensive back Zayden Gamble, posing for photos tweeted by 247Sports’ Gaby Urrutia, while pursuing 5-star offensive lineman Mark Matthews (6-5, 301 pounds, Miami-favored per On3) and Top247 wide receiver Julius Jones.

This “big move” launches Miami’s 2027 class hunt early, leveraging the school’s proximity and Cristobal’s Florida roots to lock in blue-chip talent. St. Thomas Aquinas boasts a trio of national standouts, aligning with Cristobal’s trench-first philosophy. Matthews could anchor Alex Mirabal’s line, bolstering protection amid QB flux. By striking now, post-CFP glow intact, Cristobal counters portal attrition and Mensah’s woes, positioning Miami for sustained contention in the ACC.