USF football coach Brian Hartline is justly recognized as one of the best developers of wide receivers in college football. One of his star pupils, Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith, will undoubtedly be of the first names off the NFL draft board in 2027.
His younger brother, Angelo Smith, is a highly regarded defensive back at Hollywood Chaminade Preparatory School. At big brother's urging, Angelo committed to Ohio State last September. But as he heads into his senior season in high school, there could be a twist in the plot.
Zach Blostein of 247Sports reported that Hartline has made "an aggressive push" for Angelo to flip his commitment and join what he is building at USF.
While the younger Smith remains committed to the Buckeyes, he has scheduled a visit to USF in late May. He will visit Ohio State a month later.
Angelo Smith 5‘10“ 180 Hollywood Madonna HS, FL is the younger brother of Ohio State superstar Jeremiah Smith. Angelo is a hard hitting FS with excellent speed and known for his ability to get to the ball. shows good coverage skills and is very physical.@AngeloSmithhhh pic.twitter.com/kqJtwHIkl7
— Tom Lemming (@LemmingReport) February 3, 2026
"Schools have been talking to me but I'm really just locked in on them two," Smith told Blostein.
247Sports ranks Smith as the No. 41 safety nationally and as the No. 48 player in Florida.
Hartline already has a strong connection to the Smith family because of Jeremiah. But while that got him in the door, Jeremiah is pushing for Angelo to stay with the Buckeyes.
"He's just been giving me the ins and outs of the game and he's just been telling me like, if you go to school here, they're going to develop NFL guys," Angelo said. "So it's a school you want to be at."
Angelo is just 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, but is praised for his football IQ, physical play, and speed.
He told 247Sports that he likely will choose between the Buckeyes and Bulls after concluding both visits. If Smith chooses the Bulls, he would make his collegiate debut at the inaugural game at USF's on-campus stadium.
However, nothing will be official for any player until they sign an agreement with their respective school. The exact date for that has not been finalized, but in 2025 it was on December 3.
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