ootball, basketball stars from Indiana are in an Ohio State of mind
By Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer
December 14, 2009
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Roderick Smith ran for more than 6,625 career yards and finished as the eighth all-time rusher in Indiana high school history.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- At the very least, the carpool between the best football player and best basketball player in Fort Wayne, Ind., Roderick Smith and DeShaun Thomas, will save gasoline on the 182-mile drive to Columbus. At the very best, the duo from Indiana's second-largest city could leave a mark on Ohio State sports like another duo from Indiana's largest city did three years ago.
RODERICK SMITH Running back
Harding High School, Fort Wayne, Ind.
# 6-3, 220 pounds.
# Oral commitment to Ohio State's 2010 football class will officially join the Buckeyes on National Signing Day in February.
# Recruiting ranking: The No. 53 overall player and No. 4 running back in the country, according to Rivals.com.
# High school career: Ran for more than 6,625 career yards and finished as the eighth all-time rusher in Indiana high school history. Rushed for 1,855 yards this season, including five games of at least 200 yards. Also played defense as a safety. As a freshman ran for 1,800 yards while leading Harding to the Class 2A state title.
# At Ohio State: Will join a crowded backfield next season that should include returning co-starters Brandon Saine and Dan Herron, current freshman Jordan Hall, Jaamal Berry, who redshirted this season, and Carlos Hyde, expected to enroll in January after a year of prep school. But Smith, who has heard the Beanie Wells comparisons, might be the most punishing runner in the group. And it shouldn't be long, at least by his second year in Columbus, until he works himself into some major playing time.
-- Doug Lesmerises
Ohio State fans eagerly awaited the arrival of Indianapolis basketballers Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. for a 2006-07 season that ended in a national title game. Like Oden and Conley, Smith and Thomas are former AAU basketball teammates. Like Oden and Conley, Smith and Thomas might be roommates in Columbus. Unlike Oden and Conley, they'll play on different teams for the Buckeyes. But the high school seniors have the same goals when their Ohio State careers start in 2010.
"People here are excited," Smith said. "Even though Fort Wayne's pretty small, they know we can go out and make noise with the big boys. We're going to hang out a lot down there. I'm the closest person he knows, and he's the closest person I know. So we can stick together. I'll have my eye on him, I'm sure. I've been having his back since we were playing AAU."
"We talk about it all the time," Thomas said, "about school and girls, two guys having fun together and living the college life."
