5-star Oklahoma EDGE Clayton Smith transfers to Arizona State
Jan 19, 2023, 4:26 PM | Updated: 5:39 pm
Running back Jaden Knowles #25 of the Oklahoma Sooners breaks through the tackle of outside linebacker Clayton Smith #20 of the Sooners to score a touchdown during the team's spring game at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on April 24, 2021 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Former Oklahoma Sooners EDGE Clayton Smith announced his transfer to Arizona State on Thursday.
Let’s do it #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/9hCXzOwkqp
— C$ 💫 (@claytonsmith_10) January 19, 2023
Smith was a five-star recruit by Rivals and a four-star prospect by 247Sports and ESPN, making him the highest-ranked player to transfer to ASU via the portal.
Arizona just missed out on landing another five-star recruit in EDGE Anthony Lucas on Jan. 11, but the Scottsdale Chapparal High School graduate chose to transfer from Texas A&M to USC instead of staying home.
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The 6-foot-4, 245-pound redshirt sophomore will have three years of eligibility as he joins a Sun Devil football program that is now under new leadership with head coach Kenny Dillingham at the helm.
In seven career games over the last two seasons at Oklahoma, Smith accumulated eight tackles (four solo and four assisted) and 1.5 tackles for loss to go along with one fumble recovery.
Smith is the 25th Division I transfer to enter the portal and elect to join Dillingham and Co. in Tempe this offseason.
And when it comes to high-caliber edge rushers, new defensive coordinator Brian Ward will be coaching a plethora of talented individuals for the very first time.
The five-star Smith joins four-star Texas transfer Prince Dorbah, four-star true freshman Ashley Williams and Elijah O’Neal, who was ranked the No. 3 JUCO edge rusher by 247 Sports.
