Powerful Oklahoma interior DL with five-star upside, but still a work in progress
In the 2026 season, Nigel Smith II is a 6-foot-4, 300-pound redshirt sophomore for Oklahoma who has already earned top-recruit pedigree and a move inside to defensive tackle, where coaches say he is learning fast and could become a disruptive interior rusher. His appeal is the combo platter: length, power, and flexibility as a former edge player, plus the kind of frame that fits the Sooners’ deep defensive front. The catch? He has limited college game experience, so the fit is more about upside than instant, full-time production.
