Tennessee football makes cut for 2022 Ohio OL Carter Smith

Back in their heyday, Tennessee football always managed to find a couple of key players from Ohio. Most notable among them was Peerless Price, the greatest clutch playmaker in school history. It looks like Josh Heupel is trying to recruit that area again.

UT has made the top five for Powell, Ohio offensive lineman Carter Smith. A three-star on Rivals and 247Sports who hails from Olentangy Liberty High School, Smith is 6’6″ and weighs in the range of 270 pounds.

Joining Tennessee football on Smith’s list are the Indiana Hoosiers, Northwestern Wildcats, Virginia Cavaliers and Ole Miss Rebels. Listed as an offensive tackle specifically, he announced the schools Thursday evening on Twitter.

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Obviously, offensive line is a crucial need for Heupel’s program going forward. Rocky Top’s start to the 2022 class with commitments from linebacker Elijah Herring and defensive end Venson Sneed address current issues, but the line will be an issue in the future.

Losing Trey Smith and Brandon Kennedy to graduation along with Wanya Morris and Jahmir Johnson to transfer depletes this line enough. With Cade Mays, K’Rojhn Calbert and Jerome Carvin all entering their senior years, it will be even more difficult in the future.

Despite appearing to be undersized right now, a guy like Smith would be a solid addition to help address that need. He would also help the Vols establish a pipeline into an area that they need to re-establish, even if it’s not with top-notch talent.

According to Ryan Callahan of GoVols247, Heupel and his staff offered Smith in mid-March. It doesn’t appear as if Jeremy Pruitt and his staff were as interested, but Heupel appears to be looking more for undervalued talent. Could Smith be that guy? It’s possible.

Currently, there are no favorites to land Smith on the Rivals Future Cast or the 247Sports Crystal Ball. The Auburn Tigers were the favorite on the Rivals Fan Future Cast by a plurality, but they didn’t make the cut, and that is an unscientific poll anyway. As a result, Tennessee football is very much in play for this guy and shouldn’t let up.