Signed: Brandon Smith

WHAT HE DID: Smith totaled 135 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, six sacks and nine forced fumbles as a senior. He added 165 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, six blocked kicks (4 FG, 2 punt) and five forced fumbles as a junior.

WHAT HE WON: Smith led Louisa County to an 11-1 record in 2018. During his three seasons at the school, the Lions went 33-5, including an appearance in the Virginia Group 4A State Championship in 2017. An Under Armour All-American, Smith was not only a member of USA Today's All-USA Virginia team, but he also earned first-team defensive honors on the publication's All-USA national team, as well. Most notably, he was named Virginia’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2018. The Rivals100 prospect finished as Penn State's top-ranked 2019 recruit, coming in at No. 39 overall by Rivals.com. Smith is the third-ranked outside linebacker in the country and the top-ranked prospect in Virginia for the Class of 2019.

WHERE HE VISITED: Before committing to Penn State in May 2018, Smith visited over a dozen schools. That list includes Alabama, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Virginia and Virginia Tech. He held offers from each school he visited, totaling 29 scholarship offers overall.

QUOTABLE: “Brandon Smith is as good a high school player as I’ve coached against in 21 years in this state,” said Jeff Lloyd, an opposing head coach at Monticello High. “His closing speed as a linebacker is incredible. If you don’t account for him on every play he will sure mess up your Friday night. He’s a special, once-in-a-lifetime kid.”