Curt Cignetti, Indiana steal elite EDGE recruit from Big Ten rival

Indiana Hoosiers football head coach Curt Cignetti. Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

Curt Cignetti, Indiana steal elite EDGE recruit from Big Ten rival

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated May 28, 2026 7:15 PM ET

The Indiana Hoosiers are the defending national champions, and Curt Cignetti's team is going to be here to stay if he keeps recruiting at a high level.

That, of course, means recruiting active college football players to come to Bloomington via the transfer portal, but the "classic recruiting trail" is still an important place to build a program.

Cignetti has done both well during his time in Bloomington, but even so, the recent commitment of four-star EDGE Myles Smith is more than notable.

The reason why?

The Hoosiers reached into a nearby Big Ten state and came away with one of the top football players in it, taking that player away from the Michigan Wolverines in the process.

That's a big deal, even for a program coming off a natty.

Smith announced his commitment to Indiana on Thursday. Alongside the Wolverines, other schools that were in the running include the Missouri Tigers, Kentucky Wildcats and Oklahoma Sooners.

BREAKING: Four-Star EDGE Myles Smith has Committed to Indiana, he tells me for @Rivals⁰
The 6’4 235 EDGE chose the Hoosiers over Missouri, Kentucky, Michigan, and Oklahoma

“Mama hope you’re proud”https://t.co/2Cypp9VT12 pic.twitter.com/EMiwu9qcuK
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 28, 2026

Indiana Hoosiers beat out Michigan Wolverines for top EDGE recruit

Smith took a visit to Bloomington early on in May, and that visit made all the difference for the Hoosiers.

"This visit was different because I got to really spend time around everybody for the whole weekend," Smith said, according to 247Sports. "It gave me a better feel for the culture."

Smith also got to get to know Indiana's coaching staff, and they kept it real with him the whole time. That made an impact on him.

"It was good spending time with the coaches," Smith said. "I don't feel like they were selling a dream, it was more direct and transparent, and I respect that. Coach (Curt) Cignetti, Coach Buddha (Williams), and Coach (Bryant) Haines shared the vision they have for me in their defense. I like it and I can see it. They play fast and relentless, which is my style of play. I can see myself playing as a stud or field edge in their defense."

From Farmington, Michigan, Smith goes down as a big-time commitment for Indiana.

He's ranked as the No. 23 EDGE recruit in the 2027 class and the No. 7 player in his state.

As a junior at Farmington High School, he notched 85 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, six sacks, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one pass break-up.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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