Purdue Football has secured a major addition to its 2026 recruiting class, landing a verbal commitment from three-star defensive back Emoni Smith of Westland High School in Galloway, Ohio. The 6‑foot‑1, 175‑pound safety chose the Boilermakers following an official visit to West Lafayette over the weekend, choosing Purdue back over offers from Louisville, Arizona State, Kentucky, Michigan State, West Virginia and others .
Smith was originally committed to Louisville but re-opened his recruitment in April. The Boilermakers had been in pursuit, and after experiencing the campus and coaching staff firsthand, Smith made it official on Sunday, posting on X: “All Praise To The Man Above!! 100% Committed, Recruitment Closed. Let’s Work” .
On the field, Smith stands out as a versatile two-way athlete. Defensively, he recorded 90 tackles, nine TFLs, six pass breakups and an interception in the 2024 season . Offensively, he also featured as a playmaker with 1,268 yards and seven touchdowns. His ability to disrupt runs in the box and patrol the secondary fits the mold of a modern safety, where versatility is paramount in Purdue’s scheme .
247Sports Composite ranks Smith around No. 880 overall and No. 73 in the class, acknowledging his athletic upside . Rivals recruiting analyst Greg Smith echoed that sentiment, highlighting Emoni’s athleticism, instincts and comfort roaming deep while also stepping up in run support—qualities that point to a future role as a nickel safety under defensive backs coach Mike Scherer .
With Smith’s pledge, Purdue now has 10 commitments in the 2026 class, joining defensive back Dana Greenhow, wide receiver Kymistrii Young, offensive linemen James Williams, Rico Schrieber and Brock Brownfield, tight end ArMari Towns, quarterback Corin Berry, linebacker Brayden Sweeney and running back Izaiah Wright . The class currently ranks No. 40 nationally and No. 13 in the Big Ten, as per Sports Illustrated .
Head coach Barry Odom and his staff have focused heavily on rebuilding both sides of the ball since arriving in West Lafayette, and adding Smith marks another critical step in upgrading the secondary. A former Louisville commit who opted to return to recruitment and evaluate his options has now proliferated into what appears to be a long‐term fit with Purdue’s emerging defensive identity.
Overall, Emoni Smith’s commitment is a strong boost to Purdue’s recruiting cycle—offering a multidimensional player with size, production and upside who will help solidify the Boilermakers’ back end in the coming years.