Rising 2021 OLB Clayton Smith notches a Texas offer

One of the elite in-state defenders has officially become a Texas target just days after performing in front of the Longhorns staff at a satellite camp.

Texarkana Texas High outside linebacker Clayton Smith is now the latest prospect from the 2021 cycle to garner an offer from the Horns, as Tom Herman and his staff dished out an opportunity to the rising star Tuesday afternoon, he announced on Twitter.

The four-star East Texas standout has already reeled in offers from some quality programs nearby and is beginning to attract some national attention, as well. Alongside the Longhorns, Smith has been extended offers from Arkansas, LSU, Nebraska, Oklahoma, TCU, Tulsa, and Southern.

Smith’s list of offers will continue to expand as the recruiting process continues to unfold for him.

Smith made a visit to the Forty Acres in April for the Longhorns Orange-White spring game and was taken away by the experience he had in Austin.

“The energy there is something I could get used to, the food and facilities are amazing and they’ve got the best weight room I’ve ever seen,” Smith told BON over a month ago.

He also had high remarks about the program as a whole and that the Horns will be heavily in the mix early on if an offer came about.

“Growing up it’s always been one of my favorite schools,” Smith said. “So it would definitely be one of my top picks.”

Herman and company witnessed Smith up close and in-person this past Sunday at the SMU satellite camp and were obviously impressed by what they saw from him. It’s hard to pass up on a talent like Smith who has an incredible frame, can run like the wind, and possesses the great flexibility he does.

Texas has now put out 48 total offers on the table for next year’s recruiting class and Smith is now just the second outside linebacker among that bunch.

At 6’4, 215 pounds, Smith is ranked as the No. 93 overall prospect and No. 9 outside linebacker in the 2021 cycle, per 247Sports.