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WR Devin Smith (National Champion)

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ElevenWarriors
Catching Up with Devin Smith


  • By Alex - 07 March 2011
Devin-Smith.jpg

Look for Smith to make an impact at OSU
While the class of 2011 has a tremendous amount of talent, there may be no position group needed more in Columbus than the wide receivers. With Dane Sanzebacher moving on to bigger and better things as he tries to make the jump to the NFL and DeVier Posey having to sit out the first five games due to suspension, Stan Drayton will have his work cut out for him in trying to find pass catchers to put on the field.
Corey Brown, TY Williams, Chris Fields, James Jackson, Verlon Reed, and James Louis all return from last year's corps, but newcomers Evan Spencer and Devin Smith will certainly get a chance to jump into the mix as well. While Spencer is a Buckeye legacy who was well known around the OSU recruiting circles, Smith was a players who flew under the radar for a while before getting offered and committing shortly after to Jim Tressel and the Buckeye coaching staff.
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http://photo.the-ozone.net/details....umber=11&ReturnRowCount=12&ReturnPageNumber=1

Incoming Buckeyes get a chance to impress in North-South All-Star game in Columbus
Published: Wednesday, April 20, 2011
By Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Massillon Washington's Devin Smith ran a quick slant over the middle and hauled in a pass during Wednesday's practice for the North-South All-Star Classic.

An Ohio State recruit who has caught a pass in Ohio Stadium? With that kind of experience, you could practically pencil Smith into the Buckeyes' lineup for the fall.

The Buckeyes are looking for pass catchers on the outside, so Smith, who will be playing for the North in Friday's North-South Classic at Ohio Stadium, is among the incoming OSU freshmen with the best chance to play in 2011. With senior DeVier Posey suspended for the first five games of the season, Smith and fellow freshman receiver Evan Spencer from Illinois will be joining an otherwise inexperienced receiving crew with a total of 11 career catches.

"It's going to make me work even harder knowing I have a good chance of playing," Smith said before Wednesday's practice at Ohio Stadium. "Talking to Coach [Stan] Drayton, he told me there are spots open. He told me just to work hard."

Drayton, OSU's new receivers coach, described the ability of the 6-foot-3, 185-pound Smith to go up and grab the football when praising him on signing day in February.

"You want guys who can get up and make plays. You have to be able to create separation among defenders and this young man does that pretty naturally coming out of high school," Drayton said. "He'll be great in the red zone for us. He has long arms and he's a star in the long jump."

The Buckeyes are still waiting for receivers from among the group of sophomores Chris Fields and Corey Brown and redshirt freshmen T.Y. Williams, James Louis and Verlon Reed to go out and grab the available jobs. Playing as a freshman is primarily about mental preparation and the ability to catch on quickly, coupled with opportunity, and the opportunity at receiver is there.

"Evan and I have talked about it and I think we both have a good chances of playing. We're going to come in and study the playbook and digest the system so we can get in there," Smith said.

Smith called Posey his idol, but said he hopes to model his game after former Missouri star and current Philadelphia Eagles receiver Jeremy Maclin. Asked for his best attributes, Smith mentioned his toughness and his playmaking ability.

Making some plays Friday would be a good start.
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http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2011/04/incoming_buckeyes_get_a_chance.html

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT9hdSSJLac"]YouTube - Warm Ups Devin Smith[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXLNDZ_14xM"]YouTube - Smith WR Drills 2[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bka0YpyPBQ8"]YouTube - Smith WR Drills 3[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6VqZLhXhac"]YouTube - Smith WR Drill 6[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLStg0yKnhE"]YouTube - Chase Farris and Devin Smith Interviewed[/ame]
 
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Got to cover the game today and I was very impressed with Devin. Reminds me a ton of Robiskie but with perhaps a little more speed. Nice kid too, good interview skills. I'll have my coverage up soon enough.
 
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http://photo.the-ozone.net/details....umber=16&ReturnRowCount=12&ReturnPageNumber=2

ON WR DEVIN SMITH?

The best player on the other side of the ball for the North squad was wideout Devin Smith. One of two receivers in Ohio State?s 2011 class, Smith said coming into the game that he wanted to show he could make big plays. The 6-3, 185-pound receiver did just that Friday night. Much like last year, the North did not throw the ball nearly enough, especially after they fell behind by two touchdowns.

Fortunately for Smith, they managed to target him a few times, unlike T.Y. Williams in last year?s game. Smith did a great job getting behind the defense on a post route for his 26-yard touchdown catch in the north end zone of the Horseshoe.

?My main focus that I wanted to do coming into this game was catching a touchdown,? Smith said.

?I wanted to show everyone that came out tonight that I can play football.?

Smith nearly came up with his second touchdown catch of the game in the second half after he got behind cornerback Chris Dukes on a jump ball, but quarterback Connor Cook underthrew the pass and it hit Dukes in the back.

With time ticking down, Smith made what might have been his best play of the day, laying out for a ball near midfield. He had a defender on him and bobbled the ball, but held on for a highlight real catch. He finished the game with three catches for 68 yards and was the South Offensive MVP.

Analysis: Ohio State fans have to be encouraged by Smith?s performance Friday night. His team didn?t get the win, but Smith played very well, especially considering his limited opportunities to catch the ball. Sometimes it?s hard to gauge a player's performance because some of the other players are headed for Division II schools like Tiffin or Mercyhurst, but Smith matched up against Northwestern-bound Nick Vanhoose for most of the night.
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http://www.the-ozone.net/football/2011/NorthSouth/postgamethoughts.htm
 
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Devin Smith's record-setting day helps Massillon win Stark County Championships
By Staff reports
IndeOnline.com staff report
Posted Apr 24, 2011

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CantonRep.com / Bob Rossiter
Massillon's Devon Smith wins the high jump at 6'8"

PERRY TWP. ?

It had been a week since the Massillon boys track team had competed in a meet prior to Saturday?s Stark County Championships at Perry. It had been less than 24 hours since the Tigers? Devin Smith had been involved in a competition, albeit not of the track variety.

Thanks to the efforts of Smith, the Tigers edged host Perry to capture the boys team championship Saturday afternoon. It was Massillon?s first meet since a second-place performance at the Big Ox Invitational the previous weekend.

Smith, a senior, played in the Ohio North-South All-Star Classic at Ohio Stadium on Friday evening, catching the lone touchdown for the North in a 25-7 loss. He came back Saturday to capture wins in the high jump, long jump and 100-meter dash, while joining Gareon Conley, Alex Winters and Justin Olack ? who also played in the North-South game ? on the winning 800-meter relay team.

Smith, the reigning Division I state long jump champion, set or tied three meet records in the process. His leap of 23-feet, 5.25-inches in the finals broke his own meet record in the long jump by two-and-a-half inches, while his time of 10.75 seconds in the 100 broke the meet record of 10.89 set by Alliance?s Kendell Davis in 2005.

His winning high jump of 6-feet, 8-inches tied the previous meet record, which was set by by former teammate Jamil Dudley, along with Hoover?s Aaron Morrow at last year?s meet.

Smith accounted for 30 points with his three individuals wins. He and his four relay teammates added another 10 points to the Tigers? winning total of 75, which was four better than second-place Perry?s 71 points.
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http://www.indeonline.com/communiti...elps-Massillon-win-Stark-County-Championships
 
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This kid has a lot of promise. Reminds me a little of Chris Fields coming. I hope he can produce and get some reps this year with us not being so certain at the WR position
 
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OSU problems may be gain for Massillon's Smith
By Chris Easterling
IndeOnline.com staff writer
Posted Apr 26, 2011

The five-game suspensions which await a handful of Ohio State football players this fall have no doubt caused a lot of concerns for the Buckeyes. However, those suspensions ? particularly that of receiver DeVier Posey ? may have opened up a large opportunity for Massillon?s Devin Smith.

Smith is one of two incoming freshman receivers for Ohio State this fall, along with Illinois prep standout Evan Spencer. Those two already were expected to push for playing time thanks to the departure of Dane Sanzenbacher and the limited number of catches among most of the returning receivers.

With Posey ? Ohio State?s top returning receiver ? among the Buckeyes slated to sit for the first five games, the statistics posted by the returning receiving corps goes from limited to almost nonexistent. Corey Brown?s eight catches for 105 yards are the next-highest returning total after Posey?s 53 for 848.

That?s where Smith could factor into the equation even earlier than he expected.

?When I heard DeVier and them got suspended, I saw that doors were open,? Smith said this week. ?It made me even more hungry to go in there and knowing that I have to get the job done and be that guy to step up. Right now, they?re still looking for guys to step up and things like that.?

One person who expects Smith to step up is former Ohio State receivers coach Darrell Hazell, now the new head coach at Kent State.

?Devin is a special athlete,? Hazell said while in Massillon last week for the Spring Kickoff. ?He really is. He has some tremendous gifts. If he can learn the playbook fast enough, he?s good enough to play this year.?

Even with the opportunity, Smith isn?t altering his goals as a true freshman in Columbus.

?They really haven?t changed since before they got suspended,? Smith said. ?My expectation was to go down there during the summer and try and show the coaches I can play as a freshman.?
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http://www.indeonline.com/sports/hi...OSU-problems-may-be-gain-for-Massillons-Smith
 
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