247Sports- ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ | ESPN- ★ ★ ★ ★ | Rivals- ★ ★ ★ ★
Selected Penn State over Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, NC State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Mississippi, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Wisconsin
From Smith's Head Coach Will Patrick
"Brandon is a great kid and a hard worker in the classroom and community. He's a great role model for his teammates. He's one of the most explosive athletes I've ever seen. His ability to diagnose plays and command the defense are second to none."
About Smith
High School: Three-year letterman for head coach Will Patrick at Louisa County High School...Two-time team captain...Helped lead the Lions to a 25-2 record in his last two seasons, including an appearance in the Virginia Class 4A State Championship Game in 2017...Selected to the Under Armour All-America Game...Participated in Nike’s The Opening...Garnered the 2018 Gatorade Player of the Year in Virginia...Joins former Virginia, Rams and Eagles standout Chris Long as the only central Virginia players to be named Gatorade Player of the Year...Named as a 2018 Butkus Award High School Finalist for the best high school linebacker...Chosen as a semifinalist for the Maxwell Football Club High School National Defensive Player of the Year...Named to The 2018 American Family Insurance All-USA Preseason Football Defensive Team as selected by USA Today...Collected all-state honors three times...Named the Region 4B Defensive Player of the Year as a senior...Selected all-region three times, including first team honors as a junior and senior...Earned all-conference honors in 2016, 2017 and 2018...Named All-Central Virginia three times...Was a two-time Team MVP as a junior and senior...Posted 135 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, six sacks and nine forced fumbles as a senior...Registered 165 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, six blocked kicks (4 FG, 2 punt) and five forced fumbles as a junior...Tallied 75 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, including 10 sacks as a sophomore...Rated a five-star prospect by 247Sports and a four-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals...Rated as the No. 14 overall recruit, No. 1 inside linebacker and No. 1 prospect in Virginia by 247Sports...Ranked as the No. 21 overall prospect, No. 2 outside linebacker, No. 2 player in the region and No. 1 recruit in Virginia by ESPN...Ranked No. 57 overall prospect, No. 2 outside linebacker and No. 2 recruit in Virginia by Rivals...Played basketball for two seasons...Helped the Lions to a regional runner-up finish...Is a member of National Honor Society...Is an Honor Roll student.
Personal: Full name is Brandon Nathaniel Smith...Son of Cynthia and Maurice Smith...Has one brother, Jordan...Volunteered at an elementary school mentor and with youth sports programs...Hobbies include working out, playing PS4 and hanging out with friends and family...Planning to major in criminology...Would like to become an FBI agent...Born April 12, 2001 in Henrico, Virginia.
