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RB Roderick Smith (Official Thread)

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Fresh impact: Redshirt running back Rod Smith impressing Ohio State veterans in bowl workouts
Published: Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer

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Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette photo
Rod Smith has spent his freshman season as a redshirt for the Buckeyes, but his teammates are excited by his practice exploits.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Watch out for running back Rod Smith.

Ohio State always uses part of bowl practice to give the younger players a chance to shine as the veterans step to the sidelines. This year, the star of what the Buckeyes call showtime won't be on the field at the Sugar Bowl. But it sounds like Ohio State may have to find a spot for him next season.

"Somehow, some way, he will have the football," senior cornerback Devon Torrence said.

Smith, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound back from Indiana, was the second-highest ranked player in Ohio State's 2010 recruiting class according to Rivals.com. But he didn't join the team until several weeks into the season as he waited for his transcript to be approved by the NCAA, and with the backfield already crowded, the Buckeyes made an easy decision to redshirt him.

Brandon Saine is graduating and there's always a chance fourth-year junior and 1,000-yard back Dan Herron could go to the NFL, but even if that happens, there should be plenty of running back options next season with Jordan Hall, Jaamal Berry and Carlos Hyde. And it sounds like Smith has to go near the top of that list.

"Today everyone was talking about Rod Smith," senior linebacker Ross Homan said. "He's going to be an unbelievable back, I'm telling you. He has all the physical assets, he's got size, speed, but Rod really just sits back and takes everything in. He's a humble guy, he's always in the weight room ... I always tell him, 'There's Beanie Wells' and he always smiles."

Wells, a first-round draft pick after the 2008 season, is the obvious comparison for Smith, though Wells was about an inch shorter and 15 pounds heavier. Smith is certainly that style of back, which is something OSU didn't have this season.

"It's just how he runs, where he finds creases, explosion and stuff like that," senior defensive tackle Dexter Larimore said. "And he's a bigger guy, which Ohio State always loves.

"He cuts very well for a bigger back, and I just watch him on and think, 'Man, that kid's going to be good.' I mean, obviously, he's not going to juke somebody out of his shoes - actually, he probably could do that if he wanted to. But he's able to be physical in the hole, which we always kind of liked."

Even Jim Tressel first mentioned Smith was asked for the younger players who have stood out. Maybe some big runs Smith made in Tuesday morning's practice right before interviews put his name on everyone's lips.

Cont....
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http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2010/12/fresh_impact_redshirt_running.html
 
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Ranking the top 10 redshirt freshmen
February, 9, 2011
By Bruce Feldman

With spring football not too far off for some schools (the first schools kick things off Feb. 16), it's time for a sneak peek at some freshmen who redshirted last fall but have generated plenty of buzz within their programs, and figure to do big things in 2011.

One note: I'm only including freshman redshirts here, not transfers such as one-time Texas Longhorns wide receiver Dan Buckner, who is now with the Arizona Wildcats.

1. Rod Smith, RB, Ohio State Buckeyes

Look out -- there is another tall Buckeyes running back talent with a track background set to give Big Ten defenses nightmares. This Smith, no relation to colleague Robert Smith, to whom the young Smith bears resemblance, is a 6-foot-3, 220-pound bruising back who had to wait for a few weeks into fall camp while the NCAA approved his transcript, which made the coaching staff's decision to redshirt him easier.

However, by the time bowl practices began, Smith had wowed a lot of his teammates with his work at practice. With Brandon Saine graduating and Dan Herron sidelined for five games to open the season, Smith, who some around the program compare in style to Beanie Wells, is a very strong option for Jim Tressel.
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http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/blog?name=feldman_bruce&id=6105396
 
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Eddie was a good running back, an imposing physical presence. Beanie was a better running back overall than Eddie, but he suffered (and continues to suffer) from the injury bug.

Could Rod Smith combine Eddie's durability with Beanie's skill-set? One can hope. I honestly see potential here to be the best big-back we've ever had based on these reports.
 
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HabaneroBuck;1872515; said:
Eddie was a good running back, an imposing physical presence. Beanie was a better running back overall than Eddie, but he suffered (and continues to suffer) from the injury bug.

Could Rod Smith combine Eddie's durability with Beanie's skill-set? One can hope. I honestly see potential here to be the best big-back we've ever had based on these reports.
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That would be nice. And if Hyde could play the part of Quiet Storm, we'll have a heck of a big-back tandem to go along with the shifty Hall and Berry.
 
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