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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
SUPREME '18 SUMMER ENROLLEES START MATRICULATING AT OHIO STATE
TYREKE SMITH
Eight members of Ohio State's vaunted 2018 class, the Supreme 18, early enrolled back in January.
The rest of the reinforcements started arriving in Columbus Saturday with four-star defensive end Tyreke Smith, four-star safety Josh Proctor, and four-star linebacker K'Vaughan Pope marking the first wave of summer enrollees.
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...r-enrollees-start-matriculating-at-ohio-state
TYREKE SMITH
Eight members of Ohio State's vaunted 2018 class, the Supreme 18, early enrolled back in January.
The rest of the reinforcements started arriving in Columbus Saturday with four-star defensive end Tyreke Smith, four-star safety Josh Proctor, and four-star linebacker K'Vaughan Pope marking the first wave of summer enrollees.
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...r-enrollees-start-matriculating-at-ohio-state
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
JEREMY RUCKERT, JOSH PROCTOR LEAD NEW ARRIVALS EXPECTED TO PLAY MEANINGFUL SNAPS THIS SEASON
Ohio State's 2018 recruiting class is now fully on campus and ready to make some noise.
The Buckeyes 2018 recruiting class was another elite one pulled in by Urban Meyer. Featuring three five-stars and a whopping 13 top-100 ranked players, the class finished #2 in the 247sports composite rankings, trailing only Georgia.
Of course, a class filled with that much talent is expected to have some players who can contribute immediately. Here, we will take a look at a few players who enrolled this week that can step on the field and make a difference from game one.
TYREKE SMITH, DEFENSIVE END
The defensive line for Ohio State has been one of the strongest units on the team in recent years, but with the departures of Tyquan Lewis, Jalyn Holmes, Tracy Sprinkle, Michael Hill, and Sam Hubbard, the opportunity is there for young players to step in and earn playing time.
Enter Smith, another athletic freak out of Cleveland whom the Buckeyes were able to hold off Penn State in order to land. Another highly-touted player, checking in at #34 in the final 2018 rankings, Smith has a good opportunity to earn playing time this season immediately as coach Larry Johnson is a fan of rotating his players in order to keep them fresh throughout the season.
With Nick Bosa and Chase Young expected to be one of the nations best pass-rushing duos this season, and Jonathon Cooper filling in as well, the rotation is fairly thin this season. Smith can—and likely will— help change that.
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...expected-to-play-meaningful-snaps-this-season
Ohio State's 2018 recruiting class is now fully on campus and ready to make some noise.
The Buckeyes 2018 recruiting class was another elite one pulled in by Urban Meyer. Featuring three five-stars and a whopping 13 top-100 ranked players, the class finished #2 in the 247sports composite rankings, trailing only Georgia.
Of course, a class filled with that much talent is expected to have some players who can contribute immediately. Here, we will take a look at a few players who enrolled this week that can step on the field and make a difference from game one.
TYREKE SMITH, DEFENSIVE END
The defensive line for Ohio State has been one of the strongest units on the team in recent years, but with the departures of Tyquan Lewis, Jalyn Holmes, Tracy Sprinkle, Michael Hill, and Sam Hubbard, the opportunity is there for young players to step in and earn playing time.
Enter Smith, another athletic freak out of Cleveland whom the Buckeyes were able to hold off Penn State in order to land. Another highly-touted player, checking in at #34 in the final 2018 rankings, Smith has a good opportunity to earn playing time this season immediately as coach Larry Johnson is a fan of rotating his players in order to keep them fresh throughout the season.
With Nick Bosa and Chase Young expected to be one of the nations best pass-rushing duos this season, and Jonathon Cooper filling in as well, the rotation is fairly thin this season. Smith can—and likely will— help change that.
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...expected-to-play-meaningful-snaps-this-season
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https://theathletic.com/354279/2018/06/13/tyreke-smith-rough/
Race, recruiting and never being quiet: The Tyreke Smith story
By Ari Wasserman
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — Before he decided to never be silent, before the T-shirt, before he committed to Penn State and before his mother had a candid conversation with Urban Meyer the night he flipped to Ohio State, multiple experiences shaped Tyreke Smith’s worldview.
I hope I don’t get killed for being black today
A peek inside how that became part of his everyday thinking came on the night of Sept. 16, 2016, when Tyreke, a defensive end at Cleveland Heights High School, missed a game against Lake Catholic with a broken fibula. He wanted to get some food with friends after the game. But by the time the game ended and players showered and changed, it was pushing midnight.
Steak ’n Shake is always open, even if it was 25 minutes away. That’s what they wanted. So Tyreke and his best friend, Zaire Webb, headed for the 24-hour fast-food joint on Som Center Road in Willoughby. The food was taking forever, so Smith called his parents, Randy and Michelle, to tell them he might not be home until well after 1 a.m. Randy told his son to hurry.
On the way back, Tyreke missed the highway, so he pulled over into the parking lot of Eastlake North High School to check his GPS. His lights were off. Moments later, Tyreke and Zaire saw police lights rushing toward them. Two police officers walked up to the driver’s-side door at 1:38 a.m.
“What are you doing in my city, slim?” one of the officers asked.
Tyreke and Zaire explained they had just finished eating at Steak ’n Shake and were trying to get back home. One of the officers, who refused to call Tyreke by his name, continued to challenge them, accusing them of lying, assuming they lost their driver’s licenses and that they came from a party down the road. From Tyreke and Zaire’s perspective, the stop was hostile and uncomfortable for something as seemingly routine as lights being off in a parking lot.
Cont'd ...
Race, recruiting and never being quiet: The Tyreke Smith story
By Ari Wasserman
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — Before he decided to never be silent, before the T-shirt, before he committed to Penn State and before his mother had a candid conversation with Urban Meyer the night he flipped to Ohio State, multiple experiences shaped Tyreke Smith’s worldview.
I hope I don’t get killed for being black today
A peek inside how that became part of his everyday thinking came on the night of Sept. 16, 2016, when Tyreke, a defensive end at Cleveland Heights High School, missed a game against Lake Catholic with a broken fibula. He wanted to get some food with friends after the game. But by the time the game ended and players showered and changed, it was pushing midnight.
Steak ’n Shake is always open, even if it was 25 minutes away. That’s what they wanted. So Tyreke and his best friend, Zaire Webb, headed for the 24-hour fast-food joint on Som Center Road in Willoughby. The food was taking forever, so Smith called his parents, Randy and Michelle, to tell them he might not be home until well after 1 a.m. Randy told his son to hurry.
On the way back, Tyreke missed the highway, so he pulled over into the parking lot of Eastlake North High School to check his GPS. His lights were off. Moments later, Tyreke and Zaire saw police lights rushing toward them. Two police officers walked up to the driver’s-side door at 1:38 a.m.
“What are you doing in my city, slim?” one of the officers asked.
Tyreke and Zaire explained they had just finished eating at Steak ’n Shake and were trying to get back home. One of the officers, who refused to call Tyreke by his name, continued to challenge them, accusing them of lying, assuming they lost their driver’s licenses and that they came from a party down the road. From Tyreke and Zaire’s perspective, the stop was hostile and uncomfortable for something as seemingly routine as lights being off in a parking lot.
Cont'd ...
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Unless my eyes deceived me, he is #11 and was the fourth member of the rushmen in the first series of the game.
Bosa
Young
Jones
Smith
Bosa
Young
Jones
Smith
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thackattack
Poison in a Pretty Glass
Just noticed that myself. He was in on the first defensive series.
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MARVYMARV14
Hall of Fame
Props to the young bull, kid was out there making plays, had some QB pressures and I think he may have registered a half sack... kid is legit with violent hands of the edge
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TYREKE SMITH PREPARING TO MAKE OHIO STATE'S DEFENSIVE LINE “SCARY FOR ANY QUARTERBACK”
Colin Hass-Hill on December 16, 2018 at 8:55 am @chasshill
If Larry Johnson didn’t have such a stellar reputation, first-year defensive linemen might take more of an issue with his strict guideline determining their lack of extensive playing time.
During his decades of experience coaching, Johnson has seen rough moments during key spots in important games have negative long-term impacts on the careers of freshmen, so he tries not to put them in “harm’s way” and minimizes their playing time. Johnson’s rule doesn’t exist to help Ohio State, but to benefit young, inexperienced freshmen, such as defensive end Tyreke Smith. He wants to protect them from what they don’t know yet.
“I'm really a big believer in that,” Johnson said on Oct. 2. “You don't put a freshman in a game where he has a chance to make a mistake that may cost a big play, and that lives with them. That's kind of my philosophy. I don't do that.”
Even when Nick Bosa went down with a core muscle injury in the third game of the season that cut his final year short, Johnson didn’t alter his viewpoint. He leaned heavier on a three-man rotation that featured a pair of juniors, Jonathon Cooper and Jashon Cornell, and sophomore Chase Young, instead of playing Smith and Tyler Friday more snaps.
Smith, one of two freshman defensive ends at Ohio State, entered the program this summer as the 34th-best overall prospect and the sixth-ranked defensive end in his recruiting class. He pushed for early playing time, earning 33 snaps against Rutgers in Week 2 and 28 snaps versus Tulane in the fourth week of the season.
“ONCE HE GETS EVERYTHING DOWN, HE’S GOING TO BE A MONSTER.”– CHASE YOUNG ON TYREKE SMITH
But the rest of the season, Smith hasn't had a game with more than 15 defensive snaps.
“At first it was (a struggle), but going from a person that just plays all downs to not playing, I just have to contribute as much as I can,” Smith said in the locker room after the Big Ten Championship Game. “Coach J, he's a tremendous coach. I know that my time's coming. I know that the older dudes are going to pave the way for me, so when they leave here, I've just got to pick up where they left off.”
Smith truly believes his years in the spotlight will come soon. That, he’s sure of.
Since Johnson arrived at Ohio State, following Mike Vrabel who left the program to coach in the NFL, the defensive line has been one of the most consistently dominant units in the country. Defensive ends, especially, have blossomed.
Both Nick and Joey Bosa thrived under Johnson’s tutelage. Tyquan Lewis earned Big Ten defensive lineman of the year honors. Sam Hubbard and Jalyn Holmes were selected in the NFL draft last year. Even when Bosa suffered his injury this season, Ohio State had Young, a potential high first-round draft pick in 2020, to fall back on.
Every single defensive line since Johnson began coaching at Ohio State in 2014 has featured at least one first-round pick and multiple other NFL draft picks.
Given who has come before him, Smith’s path is defined. He has a vision for the future. Smith wants – and has spent his freshman season beginning to put in the work – to become the next great defensive end at Ohio State, following in the footsteps of his predecessors.
“The freshmen we have now – me, Tommy (Togiai), Taron (Vincent), Tyler – I know next year and the year after that, my junior year, it's going to be our year,” Smith said. “We're going to control the D-line. I know it's going to be scary for any quarterback next year and the year after that. That's our plan.”
As long as Johnson is around, it’s hard to doubt Smith and his plan. The 6-foot-4, 255-pound lineman has a chance to become another feared edge rusher at Ohio State.
Over and over, Johnson has turned highly regarded prospects, just like Smith, into dominant defensive ends. Back in October, he called Smith and Friday “our future.”
Smith’s teammates see his raw abilities, too.
“He’s going to be real good,” Young said on Wednesday. “He is very explosive. He’s an athlete for sure. Every young player, even myself, we have to get better on play recognition. I think he’s got to be more efficient with his movement skills. Once he gets everything down, he’s going to be a monster.”
Johnson treats each move by defensive linemen like tools in a toolbox, which he frequently references.
Without playing consistent snaps this season, Smith hasn’t needed many tools. The short bursts of playing time have allowed him to get away with using techniques he’s comfortable with. As his time in the program increases, his toolbox will expand, Johnson believes. Smith should get a significant uptick in snaps next season, when he and Friday join Young, Cooper and Cornell in the defensive end rotation.
While Smith has been on the sidelines this season, like he was for all but seven snaps during the Big Ten championship game, he has studied his fellow defensive ends in the game. He watches them use their “tools,” trying to pick up whatever he can.
“We're watching the calls. We're just mental repping,” Smith said. “Even though we don't get a rep, we do get a rep in our heads so when we go in there, it's just like human nature, it's natural to use.”
In 172 snaps this season, Smith has eight tackles. He’s still searching for the elusive first sack of his career.
Smith, the latest piece in Johnson's toolbox of defensive linemen, shouldn’t have to wait long to achieve that milestone next season.
https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...ates-defensive-line-scary-for-any-quarterback
Colin Hass-Hill on December 16, 2018 at 8:55 am @chasshill
If Larry Johnson didn’t have such a stellar reputation, first-year defensive linemen might take more of an issue with his strict guideline determining their lack of extensive playing time.
During his decades of experience coaching, Johnson has seen rough moments during key spots in important games have negative long-term impacts on the careers of freshmen, so he tries not to put them in “harm’s way” and minimizes their playing time. Johnson’s rule doesn’t exist to help Ohio State, but to benefit young, inexperienced freshmen, such as defensive end Tyreke Smith. He wants to protect them from what they don’t know yet.
“I'm really a big believer in that,” Johnson said on Oct. 2. “You don't put a freshman in a game where he has a chance to make a mistake that may cost a big play, and that lives with them. That's kind of my philosophy. I don't do that.”
Even when Nick Bosa went down with a core muscle injury in the third game of the season that cut his final year short, Johnson didn’t alter his viewpoint. He leaned heavier on a three-man rotation that featured a pair of juniors, Jonathon Cooper and Jashon Cornell, and sophomore Chase Young, instead of playing Smith and Tyler Friday more snaps.
Smith, one of two freshman defensive ends at Ohio State, entered the program this summer as the 34th-best overall prospect and the sixth-ranked defensive end in his recruiting class. He pushed for early playing time, earning 33 snaps against Rutgers in Week 2 and 28 snaps versus Tulane in the fourth week of the season.
“ONCE HE GETS EVERYTHING DOWN, HE’S GOING TO BE A MONSTER.”– CHASE YOUNG ON TYREKE SMITH
But the rest of the season, Smith hasn't had a game with more than 15 defensive snaps.
“At first it was (a struggle), but going from a person that just plays all downs to not playing, I just have to contribute as much as I can,” Smith said in the locker room after the Big Ten Championship Game. “Coach J, he's a tremendous coach. I know that my time's coming. I know that the older dudes are going to pave the way for me, so when they leave here, I've just got to pick up where they left off.”
Smith truly believes his years in the spotlight will come soon. That, he’s sure of.
Since Johnson arrived at Ohio State, following Mike Vrabel who left the program to coach in the NFL, the defensive line has been one of the most consistently dominant units in the country. Defensive ends, especially, have blossomed.
Both Nick and Joey Bosa thrived under Johnson’s tutelage. Tyquan Lewis earned Big Ten defensive lineman of the year honors. Sam Hubbard and Jalyn Holmes were selected in the NFL draft last year. Even when Bosa suffered his injury this season, Ohio State had Young, a potential high first-round draft pick in 2020, to fall back on.
Every single defensive line since Johnson began coaching at Ohio State in 2014 has featured at least one first-round pick and multiple other NFL draft picks.
Given who has come before him, Smith’s path is defined. He has a vision for the future. Smith wants – and has spent his freshman season beginning to put in the work – to become the next great defensive end at Ohio State, following in the footsteps of his predecessors.
“The freshmen we have now – me, Tommy (Togiai), Taron (Vincent), Tyler – I know next year and the year after that, my junior year, it's going to be our year,” Smith said. “We're going to control the D-line. I know it's going to be scary for any quarterback next year and the year after that. That's our plan.”
As long as Johnson is around, it’s hard to doubt Smith and his plan. The 6-foot-4, 255-pound lineman has a chance to become another feared edge rusher at Ohio State.
Over and over, Johnson has turned highly regarded prospects, just like Smith, into dominant defensive ends. Back in October, he called Smith and Friday “our future.”
Smith’s teammates see his raw abilities, too.
“He’s going to be real good,” Young said on Wednesday. “He is very explosive. He’s an athlete for sure. Every young player, even myself, we have to get better on play recognition. I think he’s got to be more efficient with his movement skills. Once he gets everything down, he’s going to be a monster.”
Johnson treats each move by defensive linemen like tools in a toolbox, which he frequently references.
Without playing consistent snaps this season, Smith hasn’t needed many tools. The short bursts of playing time have allowed him to get away with using techniques he’s comfortable with. As his time in the program increases, his toolbox will expand, Johnson believes. Smith should get a significant uptick in snaps next season, when he and Friday join Young, Cooper and Cornell in the defensive end rotation.
While Smith has been on the sidelines this season, like he was for all but seven snaps during the Big Ten championship game, he has studied his fellow defensive ends in the game. He watches them use their “tools,” trying to pick up whatever he can.
“We're watching the calls. We're just mental repping,” Smith said. “Even though we don't get a rep, we do get a rep in our heads so when we go in there, it's just like human nature, it's natural to use.”
In 172 snaps this season, Smith has eight tackles. He’s still searching for the elusive first sack of his career.
Smith, the latest piece in Johnson's toolbox of defensive linemen, shouldn’t have to wait long to achieve that milestone next season.
https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...ates-defensive-line-scary-for-any-quarterback
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Ohio State Football 2018 Freshman Report — DE Tyreke Smith
Tyreke Smith came to Ohio State from Cleveland Heights High School in Cleveland, Ohio. He was ranked the No. 4 weakside defensive end in the nation and the No. 34 player in the 2018 class. Smith was ranked the No. 3 player in the state and signed with Ohio State over offers from Alabama, Penn State, USC, Georgia, Florida, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Akron, and many others.
2018 Season
Tyreke Smith found playing time almost immediately in Ohio State’s Rushmen package as an inside rusher on passing downs. It was an impressive feat to win the job, even if there wasn’t much to show for it in the box scores.
Smith played in 13 games last season, missing just the contest against Maryland. He finished with nine tackles.
Smith was in the two-deep at defensive end from the outset, but wasn’t really part of the rotation until later in the season. And even then, it wasn’t quite the rotation that it had been in previous years with a more veteran-based defensive end group.
Still, he proved himself to be a valuable and versatile member of the Ohio State defensive line, earning comparisons to former Buckeye — and former Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year — Tyquan Lewis.
So Now What
With starting defensive ends Chase Young and Jonathon Cooper returning, Smith will be allowed to ease into a larger role, but he will still be counted on in a significant way this season.
Last year, he was part of the rotation, but was often just a step away from making a play. This season he will need to make those plays.
Entire article: https://theozone.net/2019/02/ohio-state-football-report-tyreke-smith/
Tyreke Smith came to Ohio State from Cleveland Heights High School in Cleveland, Ohio. He was ranked the No. 4 weakside defensive end in the nation and the No. 34 player in the 2018 class. Smith was ranked the No. 3 player in the state and signed with Ohio State over offers from Alabama, Penn State, USC, Georgia, Florida, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Akron, and many others.
2018 Season
Tyreke Smith found playing time almost immediately in Ohio State’s Rushmen package as an inside rusher on passing downs. It was an impressive feat to win the job, even if there wasn’t much to show for it in the box scores.
Smith played in 13 games last season, missing just the contest against Maryland. He finished with nine tackles.
Smith was in the two-deep at defensive end from the outset, but wasn’t really part of the rotation until later in the season. And even then, it wasn’t quite the rotation that it had been in previous years with a more veteran-based defensive end group.
Still, he proved himself to be a valuable and versatile member of the Ohio State defensive line, earning comparisons to former Buckeye — and former Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year — Tyquan Lewis.
So Now What
With starting defensive ends Chase Young and Jonathon Cooper returning, Smith will be allowed to ease into a larger role, but he will still be counted on in a significant way this season.
Last year, he was part of the rotation, but was often just a step away from making a play. This season he will need to make those plays.
Entire article: https://theozone.net/2019/02/ohio-state-football-report-tyreke-smith/
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“THIS YEAR SOMETHING DIFFERENT'S COMING”: TYREKE SMITH SETS SIGHTS ON SECOND-YEAR JUMP
Colin Hass-Hill on April 3, 2019 at 12:20 pm @chasshill
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Nick Bosa on one end of the line. Chase Young on the other. Dre’Mont Jones and Robert Landers up the middle. Ohio State expected to have one of the best pass-rushes in the nation with so much talent on its defensive line to begin last season.
The Buckeyes only realized the pass-rushing potential for three games, though, before Bosa's season ended due to a core muscle injury that required surgery. Larry Johnson had to turn to Jonathon Cooper, Jashon Cornell and a pair of freshmen – Tyreke Smith and Tyler Friday – to replace the future top-five NFL draft pick. That foursome combined for just 4.5 sacks in 14 games while Young totaled 10.5 sacks despite playing on a pair of bum ankles.
In 2019, Young will ascend to the role Bosa was supposed to have as the primary edge rusher. But in order to maximize production up front, Ohio State needs someone else to step up on the opposite side of the line. Cooper, who expects to have an improved senior year after a disappointing 2018 season, is a possibility. Cornell, who moved back to defensive tackle, is not.
Smith, entering his second year in Columbus, now stands 6-foot-5, weighs 267 pounds and could be exactly what the Buckeyes need across from Young.
“When (Bosa) left, we just had to take that on ourselves, just like, you know, we've got to get better, we've got to fill in for that gap,” Smith said. “I think now, this season, since they all left, Dre'Mont, Nick, everybody left, I've got to fill in that gap, and I've got to do my part.”
Young, too, sees Smith rising.
“Tyreke Smith, he's definitely going to help us pass-rush,” Young said. “He's definitely getting a lot better. He's definitely shown flashes of being a real great player. My job is just to stay on Tyreke and push him to his potential so I can see what he can do this year.”
Smith didn’t have a sack as a true freshman, but he played more snaps than any other first-year player on the team, earning an immediate spot on the Rushman package of pass-rush specialists last season. As Smith said, he knew he could pass rush, so he found a contributing role as early as possible. He played about as much as any freshman ever does for Johnson, who avoids playing freshmen during games when they might make a mistake that could live when them and affect their long-term prospects.
The first year on campus, to Johnson, is a learning experience. The upcoming season, though, is his opportunity to make a splash.
“Guys who can handle the second year really take off,” Johnson said.
Smith wants to do more than just handle his sophomore season.
“My expectation is just to be the best I can for my team, to help the unit out as much,” Smith said. “I'm trying to just be noticed as one of the best D-linemen in the country. That's my goal.”
A lofty goal, but one Johnson has helped linemen achieve in the past, including a pair of defensive ends last season – Bosa and Young.
Johnson, always quick to protect his players, said Smith can be “pretty good,” noting he has to be careful not to praise him too much since he’s young and inexperienced. It’s clear, though, he has high expectations for the rising sophomore.
“Tyreke has always been quick,” Johnson said. “He's always been in great shape. Now just learning how to play football. Last year was a big learning experience, I can tell you that. Now we see the player he is possible of being. So he's got a great future ahead of him.”
In order to reach his ceiling, Smith took the lead from Johnson, who pushed him to spend time after practices watching film over and over.
After every practice, Smith said, he meets up with Johnson and they watch film together.
“I think film is a big part because last year I don't think I watched as much film,” Smith said. “I watched film, but this year I'm really taking initiative and really going in every day after practice and watching film, making sure my technique is right, making sure I can see plays before they happen and eliminate plays and play faster.”
Johnson has stayed on Smith’s case in the film room, beginning his critiques before even clicking the button to play clips.
Recounting what they recently worked on, Smith said his hips in his stance used to sink too much before the snap. So without even watching the play, Johnson gave him about “10 pointers” detailing what he needed to do to improve his reaction when the ball was snapped. That translated into on-field drills to practice elongating his initial step when the center snapped the ball.
“My first step was a big thing I had to fix,” Smith said. “I was fast, but I was getting off short. I wasn't elongating my steps. So we worked countless drills. Little hurdles. Just trying to step to the cone. Get my step past my hand. He's just been stressing that. I feel like that's been the biggest improvement for me. I feel like it's been great in my pass-rushing because it gets me off the ball faster, and I've got a faster and better edge on the tackle.”
With a full year of experience, Smith will be after that elusive sack and much more.
There’s an opening to make a significant impact off the edge. After getting a taste of what he called “definitely just the beginning” last season, he has lofty hopes.
“This year it's something different coming,” Smith said.
https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...-tyreke-smith-sets-sights-on-second-year-jump
Colin Hass-Hill on April 3, 2019 at 12:20 pm @chasshill
Email this ArticleShare on RedditShare on TwitterShare on Facebook374
22 COMMENTS
Nick Bosa on one end of the line. Chase Young on the other. Dre’Mont Jones and Robert Landers up the middle. Ohio State expected to have one of the best pass-rushes in the nation with so much talent on its defensive line to begin last season.
The Buckeyes only realized the pass-rushing potential for three games, though, before Bosa's season ended due to a core muscle injury that required surgery. Larry Johnson had to turn to Jonathon Cooper, Jashon Cornell and a pair of freshmen – Tyreke Smith and Tyler Friday – to replace the future top-five NFL draft pick. That foursome combined for just 4.5 sacks in 14 games while Young totaled 10.5 sacks despite playing on a pair of bum ankles.
In 2019, Young will ascend to the role Bosa was supposed to have as the primary edge rusher. But in order to maximize production up front, Ohio State needs someone else to step up on the opposite side of the line. Cooper, who expects to have an improved senior year after a disappointing 2018 season, is a possibility. Cornell, who moved back to defensive tackle, is not.
Smith, entering his second year in Columbus, now stands 6-foot-5, weighs 267 pounds and could be exactly what the Buckeyes need across from Young.
“When (Bosa) left, we just had to take that on ourselves, just like, you know, we've got to get better, we've got to fill in for that gap,” Smith said. “I think now, this season, since they all left, Dre'Mont, Nick, everybody left, I've got to fill in that gap, and I've got to do my part.”
Young, too, sees Smith rising.
“Tyreke Smith, he's definitely going to help us pass-rush,” Young said. “He's definitely getting a lot better. He's definitely shown flashes of being a real great player. My job is just to stay on Tyreke and push him to his potential so I can see what he can do this year.”
Smith didn’t have a sack as a true freshman, but he played more snaps than any other first-year player on the team, earning an immediate spot on the Rushman package of pass-rush specialists last season. As Smith said, he knew he could pass rush, so he found a contributing role as early as possible. He played about as much as any freshman ever does for Johnson, who avoids playing freshmen during games when they might make a mistake that could live when them and affect their long-term prospects.
The first year on campus, to Johnson, is a learning experience. The upcoming season, though, is his opportunity to make a splash.
“Guys who can handle the second year really take off,” Johnson said.
Smith wants to do more than just handle his sophomore season.
“My expectation is just to be the best I can for my team, to help the unit out as much,” Smith said. “I'm trying to just be noticed as one of the best D-linemen in the country. That's my goal.”
A lofty goal, but one Johnson has helped linemen achieve in the past, including a pair of defensive ends last season – Bosa and Young.
Johnson, always quick to protect his players, said Smith can be “pretty good,” noting he has to be careful not to praise him too much since he’s young and inexperienced. It’s clear, though, he has high expectations for the rising sophomore.
“Tyreke has always been quick,” Johnson said. “He's always been in great shape. Now just learning how to play football. Last year was a big learning experience, I can tell you that. Now we see the player he is possible of being. So he's got a great future ahead of him.”
In order to reach his ceiling, Smith took the lead from Johnson, who pushed him to spend time after practices watching film over and over.
After every practice, Smith said, he meets up with Johnson and they watch film together.
“I think film is a big part because last year I don't think I watched as much film,” Smith said. “I watched film, but this year I'm really taking initiative and really going in every day after practice and watching film, making sure my technique is right, making sure I can see plays before they happen and eliminate plays and play faster.”
Johnson has stayed on Smith’s case in the film room, beginning his critiques before even clicking the button to play clips.
Recounting what they recently worked on, Smith said his hips in his stance used to sink too much before the snap. So without even watching the play, Johnson gave him about “10 pointers” detailing what he needed to do to improve his reaction when the ball was snapped. That translated into on-field drills to practice elongating his initial step when the center snapped the ball.
“My first step was a big thing I had to fix,” Smith said. “I was fast, but I was getting off short. I wasn't elongating my steps. So we worked countless drills. Little hurdles. Just trying to step to the cone. Get my step past my hand. He's just been stressing that. I feel like that's been the biggest improvement for me. I feel like it's been great in my pass-rushing because it gets me off the ball faster, and I've got a faster and better edge on the tackle.”
With a full year of experience, Smith will be after that elusive sack and much more.
There’s an opening to make a significant impact off the edge. After getting a taste of what he called “definitely just the beginning” last season, he has lofty hopes.
“This year it's something different coming,” Smith said.
https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...-tyreke-smith-sets-sights-on-second-year-jump
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Morning Conversational: What Separates Tyreke Smith?
Defensive end Tyreke Smith played in 13 of Ohio State’s 14 games last season as a true freshman, missing only the overtime thriller at Maryland.
He made such a quick impression on defensive line coach Larry Johnson that he was also part of the Buckeyes’ Rushmen package in the season opener against Oregon State.
Smith finished with just nine tackles on the season, but played more than any of the other freshman defensive linemen.
As one of the top defensive end signees in the nation last year, Smith came to Ohio State with high expectations. He believes he possesses a set of traits that makes him different than most defensive ends in college football.
“I think my strength, my quickness off the ball, my technique, my pass-rushing skills, I’ve got violent hands,” Smith said of what sets him apart. “Coach J, we work constantly on hand movement. I think he stresses that a lot, and I take that seriously. I feel like that’s a major thing with pass-rushing. So I feel like that’s a key thing for me. I’m strong on the run fit, so I think that’s a good thing.”
Last year did not surprise Smith. It’s not that he was promised anything, he just knew what he had done to earn this opportunity.
“I know how much work I put in,” he said. “I know how much dedication I put in. I know how much I was focused. I came in ready to grind, ready to do whatever it took. I asked Coach J, I said, ‘What do I have to do to play?’
“That was just a goal and a mentality, and I know I could rush, so I got in where I could fit in. I got in on the Rushmen package. Now I’m just trying to get better, instead of just being on a package, I’m trying to take my time and be a key part of the defense that everyone talks about.”
Entire article: https://theozone.net/2019/04/ohio-state-separates-tyreke-smith/
Defensive end Tyreke Smith played in 13 of Ohio State’s 14 games last season as a true freshman, missing only the overtime thriller at Maryland.
He made such a quick impression on defensive line coach Larry Johnson that he was also part of the Buckeyes’ Rushmen package in the season opener against Oregon State.
Smith finished with just nine tackles on the season, but played more than any of the other freshman defensive linemen.
As one of the top defensive end signees in the nation last year, Smith came to Ohio State with high expectations. He believes he possesses a set of traits that makes him different than most defensive ends in college football.
“I think my strength, my quickness off the ball, my technique, my pass-rushing skills, I’ve got violent hands,” Smith said of what sets him apart. “Coach J, we work constantly on hand movement. I think he stresses that a lot, and I take that seriously. I feel like that’s a major thing with pass-rushing. So I feel like that’s a key thing for me. I’m strong on the run fit, so I think that’s a good thing.”
Last year did not surprise Smith. It’s not that he was promised anything, he just knew what he had done to earn this opportunity.
“I know how much work I put in,” he said. “I know how much dedication I put in. I know how much I was focused. I came in ready to grind, ready to do whatever it took. I asked Coach J, I said, ‘What do I have to do to play?’
“That was just a goal and a mentality, and I know I could rush, so I got in where I could fit in. I got in on the Rushmen package. Now I’m just trying to get better, instead of just being on a package, I’m trying to take my time and be a key part of the defense that everyone talks about.”
Entire article: https://theozone.net/2019/04/ohio-state-separates-tyreke-smith/
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Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Football: Tyreke Smith learning to ‘play faster’ as third defensive end for Ohio State
Nick Bosa is gone. Jashon Cornell is moving to defensive tackle. Junior Chase Young and senior Jonathon Cooper return as clear starters at defensive end. But the Buckeyes need depth to keep those two fresh.
If Saturday’s Spring Game is any indication, sophomore Tyreke Smith is emerging as option No. 3.
Smith led all defenders with 1.5 sacks, finishing with 3.5 total tackles in the game. Overall, the Ohio native appeared more confident, growing into his new role as a leader in the room.
“Last year I was getting out there like ‘Oh, I don’t know what they’re gonna run,” Smith said. “I feel more comfortable out there, I feel like I can play faster, get off the ball faster.”
Coming in as a four-star prospect, Smith went through the typical first-year learning curve with just nine tackles and zero sacks in 2018.
Moving forward, he knows there’s plenty of strides to make before he finds a larger role next season.
“Trying to hone my technique and just help the unit,” Smith said. “Get some more game-type reps for my guys, go out there and try to get some stops, get a look on how the defense is gonna be.”
Head coach Ryan Day recognizes the importance of a strong third defensive end, particularly in the defense Ohio State will run. The Buckeyes have a history of rotating defensive linemen, a philosophy co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison has said he intends to stick with this season.
That’s why he’s stressed the importance of Smith’s development to the Buckeyes’ veteran defensive linemen. Young in particular said Day told him to take Smith “under his wing.”
“Every chance I get to text Tyreke, or talk to him, try to get some things to work on with him, I’m gonna do it,” Young said. “I want him to be the best player he can be.”
Entire article: https://www.thelantern.com/2019/04/...faster-as-third-defensive-end-for-ohio-state/
Nick Bosa is gone. Jashon Cornell is moving to defensive tackle. Junior Chase Young and senior Jonathon Cooper return as clear starters at defensive end. But the Buckeyes need depth to keep those two fresh.
If Saturday’s Spring Game is any indication, sophomore Tyreke Smith is emerging as option No. 3.
Smith led all defenders with 1.5 sacks, finishing with 3.5 total tackles in the game. Overall, the Ohio native appeared more confident, growing into his new role as a leader in the room.
“Last year I was getting out there like ‘Oh, I don’t know what they’re gonna run,” Smith said. “I feel more comfortable out there, I feel like I can play faster, get off the ball faster.”
Coming in as a four-star prospect, Smith went through the typical first-year learning curve with just nine tackles and zero sacks in 2018.
Moving forward, he knows there’s plenty of strides to make before he finds a larger role next season.
“Trying to hone my technique and just help the unit,” Smith said. “Get some more game-type reps for my guys, go out there and try to get some stops, get a look on how the defense is gonna be.”
Head coach Ryan Day recognizes the importance of a strong third defensive end, particularly in the defense Ohio State will run. The Buckeyes have a history of rotating defensive linemen, a philosophy co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison has said he intends to stick with this season.
That’s why he’s stressed the importance of Smith’s development to the Buckeyes’ veteran defensive linemen. Young in particular said Day told him to take Smith “under his wing.”
“Every chance I get to text Tyreke, or talk to him, try to get some things to work on with him, I’m gonna do it,” Young said. “I want him to be the best player he can be.”
Entire article: https://www.thelantern.com/2019/04/...faster-as-third-defensive-end-for-ohio-state/
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