Published: May 1, 2009
Hawks? Smith leans toward OSU
Greg Jones
High school sports editor
File photo
Roderick Smith of Harding is ranked as the 11th-best running back recruit in the nation by recruiting service Scout.com.
Rod Smith
School: Harding
Grade: Junior
Position: Running back
Height/weight: 6-3, 220
Yearly rushing yards
2008: 1,685
2007: 1,286
2006: 1,799
Harding junior running back Rod Smith has been listening to interest from other college suitors, but it will be difficult for any of them to overtake Ohio State as Smith?s future destination.
?I have been patient,? Smith said of his recruiting process. ?I haven?t been worrying about it too much. I want to see what is the right fit for me.
?It has been on and off, kind of crazy. I get a lot of phone calls, but it has been going pretty good. If I see a different area code (on the caller ID), it is probably a reporter.?
Ohio State has been atop his list since the Buckeyes were impressed with Smith at a 7-on-7 camp as a freshman. Smith was at Ohio State?s Spring Game on April 25 and was treated like royalty.
?They are leading the pack,? Smith said of Ohio State. ?I really like their program, and their coaches are really committed to the players. But I am trying to see what opens up out there for me.?
Smith has been offered a scholarship by Ohio State, Purdue, Iowa and Michigan State. He said he has had conversations with Michigan State recently. Also in the mix are Minnesota, Georgia and Oklahoma.
The official commitment won?t be until July, but he might wait until the end of his senior season, he said.